Meeting outside in groups of more than 6

[user47000000000]

It’s my birthday at the end of August.

Does anyone know when the guidance might be changing to allow larger groups?

No idea but it’s likely it will be August of the previous relaxation timelines are anything to go by. Depends on how much cases rise by after opening things up this weekend though!

My work is having a leaving party for a colleague next week with 80+ invited. Justification it's just an extension to the working day and we're all in the office together anyway. Having seen the scenes in London last night I think you can safely do what you like. Either that or we'll all be back in full lockdown by August because of things like this.

'@MoonRune that is completely irresponsible of your work and actually illegal in the UK. I hope someone reports them.

Totally agree @Racoonworld. I'm not going but I'm in a minority.

That’s awful re: the work party.

I have a large garden and we could do social distancing sensibly in a group of up to 50.

I was hoping we might be able to have around 20 people but I’d want to only do it if it was “allowed”!!

Outside has virtually no risk or we’d have seen waves following Easter, VE, beaches and protests and we haven’t

There were only 550 cases yesterday out of 66 million

I honestly can’t see how people think they’re getting in from every corner! People have to have it to pass it on

Perfectly legal to have a gathering of up to 30 people now, inside or outside.

@moonrune agre, that's terrible. Yes, you're working together but presumably with social distancing and PPE in place between adults ans not with alcohol and chatting and standing together all day? Or if there also isn't distancing etc at work, that's even worse and incredibly irresponsible (and illegal) on the part of your employers.

If anyone got covid the individual would be entirely within their rights to bring a claim, and the insurance company would almost certainly not cover them as they're not following guidance.

I thought the guidance was 30 outside now? Don't ask me to link though because I will have read it on here somewhere!
The rules are really unclear now. I attended birthday drinks outside on Friday. There were more than 6. We all remained apart.

@Stuckforthefourthtime how can they claim? They'd be choosing to attend the party. I am sure the employers isn't forcing them to attend!

It's still only 6 in England it's 30 in NI.

Okay have just found this. I find it contradictory... it is from the same section. A few bullet points apart.

when you are outside you can continue to meet in groups of up to six people from different households, following social distancing guidelines

And then:

It will be against the law to gather in groups larger than 30 people, except for a limited set of circumstances to be set out in law

The guidance is up to 6 outdoors and only two households indoors, but it's only against the law to have a gathering of more than 30 people. So you can ignore the guidance if you want. I'm not saying you should, but you can. Guidance isn't legally binding.

I thought the guidance was 30 outside now? Don't ask me to link though because I will have read it on here somewhere!

No, 6 people outside from any number of households, or any number of people from 2 households.

30 is the legal exemption for some things, such as weddings.

The next update is at the end of July. No real guess on whether there will be a big change in the number of people allowed, but if it's all outside, you stand a better chance than if it's inside.

Okay thank you @MeadowHay that is useful to know. I have been keen to do the right thing. Good to know we weren't terribly in the wrong on Friday!

That's not what it says on the gov website @ShellsAndSunrises see above that i linked. It doesn't mention weddings or anything. Just that it is against the law to gather in groups larger than 30.

So up to 30 people In a garden is legal then? With distancing...

According to the gov website, it appears so.

@user47000000000

So up to 30 people In a garden is legal then? With distancing...

Yes

@Hugglespuffed no it specifically says that it's 6 people or more than that if it's only 2 households e.g. two households of 4 people each.

That's the guidance for everyone including parties.

Weddings and I believe funerals have some special exemptions, however it's meant to be underlined that over 30 is illegal even so.

@user47000000000 @IrenetheQuaint @MoonRune

No, it says that from 4 July "gather outdoors in a group of more than six people from different households; gatherings larger than 6 should only take place if everyone is from just two households"

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do-after-4-july#gatherings-public-spaces-and-activities
It's really confusing with the point about 30 I agree, but that's for other cases.

That's just the guidance, @stuckforthefourthtime. The law is here, para 5a:

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/684/made

What is the point in the guidance if the law is 30? I just don't understand. It is either allowed or it isn't?

Think about other types of guidance especially health guidance. The NHS puts out lots of guidance about health. E.g. stop smoking. The law and public health guidance are not one and the same. It's a bit like saying what's the point in the NHS promoting stopping smoking when smoking is still legal. But no one would argue the guidance shouldn't exist and very very few people would argue that smoking should be made illegal.