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What the new UK lockdown rules mean for you

Neighbours in the Queen's Park area of Glasgow, Scotland, enjoy the warm weather - James Chapelard
Neighbours in the Queen's Park area of Glasgow, Scotland, enjoy the warm weather - James Chapelard
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..

When Boris Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown on March 23, few people realised it would mean they would be prevented from family get-togethers for a full 10 weeks.

On Monday, grandparents who have had to rely on photographs or Skype calls to see their grandchildren growing up will finally be able to see them in the flesh again after the Prime Minister said he could allow a “limited and cautious” easing of social restrictions.

They will, however, have to resist the temptation to hug or kiss them or hold babies in their arms because people living in different households must stay two metres apart.

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Mr Johnson acknowledged the “frustration” many people will still feel, but at long last families and friends can spend time together in back gardens and even look forward to a barbecue summer.

Can I meet my parents and grandparents?

Yes you can, as long as they are not in the “shielding” category. From Monday, you can meet five other people at any one time, as long as it is in an outdoor space and social distancing is maintained. That means any two people from different households must stay two metres apart, though any groupings who live in the same house don’t need to socially distance from each other.

Over-70s can be among them, as long as they take “extra care” with social distancing, hand-washing and touching hard surfaces where the virus might linger.

You can now meet friends and family in your garden, in a park or any other outdoor space.

Currently people have been able to meet in parks but not gardens. The Prime Minister said last night:“This was a cautious first step - but we know that there is no difference in the health risk. So we will now allow people to meet in gardens and other private outdoor spaces.”

Can I visit their homes?

Yes you can, as long as you stay outside. There is no rule that dictates whose garden you can or can’t meet in. However, if young children from different households are part of the group, they must not share paddling pools, climbing frames, slides or anything else that would encourage them to be closer than two metres to each other and touch hard surfaces.

However maintaining the two-metre social distancing rule for people who live in different households is still “essential”.

Oriah Hoggett (6) left her grandparents crying tears of joy by ensuring they will never be apart from her during lockdown - Kennedy News and Media 
Oriah Hoggett (6) left her grandparents crying tears of joy by ensuring they will never be apart from her during lockdown - Kennedy News and Media

Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, said last night: “We want to really reinforce the point that if people are meeting in these new slightly relaxed social distancing guidelines […] it is essential that people maintain two metres, and that is really important. This risk has not gone away.”

How many households can meet?

Up to six people from six different households. The Government decided not to press ahead with an earlier plan for two households to be allowed to meet (to the exclusion of other households) and also decided against the “bubble” model of a set number of nominated friends and family who could meet each other.

It means you can meet five friends on one day, and five other friends on another day, but Government sources have asked people to use “common sense” and not to invite, for example, three groups of five to your house at different times on the same day.

Coronavirus Live Tracker promo embed
Coronavirus Live Tracker promo embed

What if you have to go through the house to get to the garden?

That’s fine, as long as you take care not to touch surfaces or “linger” indoors. Just go straight through the house into the garden and use your common sense. If you do have a side gate or a garage through which you can access the garden, use that instead.

Can I have a barbecue?

Yes you can, as long as you stick to the six person rule and maintain social distancing. You can serve food and drinks but make sure crockery and cutlery are thoroughly cleaned before and afterwards, don’t share plates, cutlery, serving spoons or glasses and encourage people to fetch their own plates and utensils from a pile rather than handing them round.

Mr Johnson said barbecues are allowed provided everybody washes their hands and “exercises common sense”. The Prime Ministerwarned: “If you're going to do things like that it's got to be incredibly scrupulous, and, and, and careful. Otherwise really we risk just transmitting that disease again.”

Prof Whitty said people should take care eating with their hands at a barbecue. He said: “Remember that passing things from one person to another, if you haven't washed your hands, you could transmit the virus that way

Can I use the lavatory while I’m there?

Yes you can, as long as you pay special attention to washing your hands thoroughly and avoid touching things on the way through the house. You could also use a paper towel to open and close bathroom doors and consider other sensible measures such as kitchen roll to dry hands on rather than a shared towel.

Prof. Whitty said if someone went to use the lavatory it would be “absolutely critical that they wipe everything down, wash their hands, all the way through.”

What if I don’t have a garden?

You can use a patio or roof terrace, if you have one, but otherwise you will need to meet your friends and family in a park or open space. Indoor meetings are strictly prohibited.

What if it starts to rain?

Use an umbrella, or go home. Do not invite everyone indoors to keep dry, as this would be in breach of the rules.

Can I stay overnight?

No. Overnight stays are banned. Even camping in your friend’s garden is banned because the Government has not relaxed the rules on overnight stays in any way.

Asked if people can visit family and camp in their garden overnight, Mr Johnson said:“We don't want people to stay overnight. We don't want people to go to other households and stay there. I'm just afraid we're not at that stage.”

He added: “We’re not saying that people should now be allowed to move freely across the country and stay in other people’s houses. That is not where we are yet.”

Does this mean I can play golf, tennis or other sports with more than one person now?

Yes it does. Until now, you have only been able to play outdoor sports with one other person, but the new rules mean that groups of up to six can meet at a time, as long as they observe social distancing rules.

It means that four-ball golf groupings and doubles matches in tennis are back on (though your doubles partner must live with you), as well as kickabouts in the park.

Outdoor exercise classes with up to six people are also allowed, as long as they stay 2m apart from each other, but any sporting activity that involves contact is still banned for non-elite sports, meaning you can kick a ball to each other but you can’t tackle.

What about those being shielded?

People who are classed as “extremely clinically vulnerable” will not see restrictions lifted and must continue to shield themselves.

Mr Johnson said: “We are looking carefully at how we can make your life easier, and how we can better support you, and we want to say more on that soon.”

He added: “ I do understand how difficult this has been for you, especially.And I want to thank you for all the efforts you have gone to - because your actions have helped the NHS to cope.”

Can I hug my relatives?

Not if you do not live in the same household. Asked when people will be able to hug close family again, Mr Johnson re-emphasised the need to maintain social distancing rules and said: “We're not there yet.”

He said: “It's very, very important that people understand the really limited nature of what we're saying. We do want people to be able to see their friends and family.

“We do want people to be able to see two grandparents at once, but it's got to be socially distant.”

Got a question about the new lockdown rules? Leave them in the comments section below or email them to yourstory@telegraph.co.uk and our experts will answer your queries.