Government announcement at 10.30 tonight

[Jenasaurus]

Im listening to LBC radio and they have just said there will be a live government announcement on LBC at 10.30 tonight that will affect households. I am confused why would this be on LBC at that time, if they know the announcement they are going to make, why not make it earlier?

@ineedaholidaynow

I think the 2 household rule for indoors has gone, replaced by 6 people limit

Could be!

It doesn't change much. It's a gesture.

The list of exemptions could have been prepared and published at the same time, not waiting until today. Makes things crystal clear and less excuse for 'confusion'.

avenueq I think that is a very good question. My son has just moved into his student flat with three others from his course. Will they each be allowed to have 5 friends over or will it be limited to an extra two? I think it will be the latter because officially they are one household even though they have their own rooms. This is going to cause problems. Eg if they come back at different times how will they know who is already in the flat unless they go round to all the rooms and check? Being fined £100 and potentially being kicked out of uni for unknowingly breaking a law that was put in place with no parliamentary scrutiny. This country should be ashamed.

@annabel85

It doesn't change much. It's a gesture.

I think it changes a lot actually, as enforcement is now much more straightforward.

Assume there will be much more pressure on pubs and restaurants to comply.

Also most people, way more than half, do follow rules. So even if a small percentage continue as before, the majority will have reduced risk.

It also removes a lot of pressure from track and trace as they shouldn't have so many to follow up.

Whether we like it or not, UK systems for both testing and tracing are failing. So unless we were willing to seeing rapidly rising cases, they needed to stop big groups from creating little outbreaks.

@AnonymouseInHiding

But you say the tables are appropriately distanced so presumably this reduces risk. Is there risk in a restaurant? Yes, but it’s mitigated by exactly the measures you’ve stated.

Infection seems to be spread by groups gathering socially. not being passed between distanced tables in a well managed pub/restaurant.

Are 7 people gathering “dangerous”? Not really, but if the Government are going to do take action they have to set a limit somewhere. People will always stretch stuff, so if it was set at 8 or 10, people would meet in groups of 10-12-14 etc. and think “it’s only a few more”.

@SarahMused

They are a single household if in a flat. For halls with separate rooms the uni will have covid rules anyway.

Yes, they will just have to develop a system of checking, even just a note on the door, as all students will in this situation. Surely they can text each other?

The alternative is universities drive community transmission and you get campus closures.

Plus if long covid affects 1 in 10 mild cases, that's a fair risk to a student of a disrupted term.

Punishing families with children, especially families with more than one or two children. Population control, anyone? This is going to make many people think twice about having that third (or fourth, or fifth) baby.

I love how they say there's an "exception" for families of larger than six, by which they don't mean they can actually meet all together with anyone. All they mean is "families of 7+ can still live in a residence together without breaking the law, you don't need to have half the kids move to their own flat if you've got a large family."

Unbelievable.

It's very simple.

Up to 6 people can meet indoors or outdoors. There are two 'family' exemptions:

1. The household has more than 6 people

Or

1. The household is forming a bubble with another household and at least one of the households is a single person/lone parent.

We are a family of 5, so we can't meet up with my parents from Monday, unless we leave someone at home.

*This is going to make many people think twice about having that third (or fourth, or fifth) baby."

That wouldn't be the worst thing for the planet, but I doubt it anyway. Plenty of people have more children than they can afford, or bring them into chaotic homes when already struggling with the children they have; if that doesn't stop people, this won't.

Punishing families with children, especially families with more than one or two children. Population control, anyone? This is going to make many people think twice about having that third (or fourth, or fifth) baby.

Don't be ridiculous. Population control? Seriously? 🙄

@Derbygerbil

Yes, the tables are distanced, and yes we try and ensure social distancing etc. But, realistically in practice it's often minimal in effect. Realistically we are all in an enclosed environment breathing each other in, and for the staff that's a bare minimum of 6 hours a day depending on shift. Yesterday we had unmasked customers openly coughing repeatedly at tables. Tables that we staff have to touch to clear, and sanitise etc. So yes, in theory it is safe, but is it really? And how can it possibly be much safer than a gathering of 7 people who are not hugging and trying to maintain an adequate distance. It's just nonsense. It's not safer, but it's allowed. Somehow it's OK. Please note that I am not advocating for stopping gathering in restaurants, just trying to point out the inherent absurdity of the whole thing.

The rate appears to be increasing by households mixing, so they need to try and curb that. Also need to factor in universities going back.

If this measure doesn’t work then they will need to bring in others, which I assume will probably impact the hospitality industry, but they will want to delay that for economic purposes.

Having seen the ever increasing rise in daily cases I suggest some posters have a rethink.

Population control and punishment for families with kids - FFS!

I bloody hate the Tories but welcome this change. I'm in a restricted North West area and there are big groups of teenagers in the park every day. If this allows the police more power to do something about it, then great.

What does it mean for indoor sports like yoga, pilates, etc? Maximum of 5 participants and the teacher maybe?

Freshers haven’t started yet, but if you read the Higher Ed board on here, there are a lot of 2nd yr and upwards who have gone back to shared houses and flats to be with their student friends. No doubt some are having parties, so I think No 10 trying to prevent student parties has definitely contributed to the change.

I asked a colleague yesterday when her DD was going back to 2nd yr, sometime in Sept she said, and “already has plans to visit school friends at other Unis over different weekends“. As my colleague said, her DD has a Covid, what Covid? attitude. Whilst there will be plenty of sensible students, she won’t be the only one with that attitude.

"It's not a hard concept to understand" neither is fucking off, dear.

I don't see why people keep banging on about it being illogical?

Its perfectly logical. If we want to keep schools open and get people back to work we have to pull back and put restrictions in place elsewhere.

Loads of people were either ignorant about the rules or confused by them or just defaulting to the most convenient ("groups of 30 are fine!") so they needed to make it clear. Six people (plus potentially a single person bubble) from max 2 households. Whether outside or in. Its much clearer.

Macramacious

Hopefully that is made clearer today. If he is trying to prevent student parties, large groups of youngsters, then maybe sport activities will be exempt?

My young adult DD has just started football again, but hopefully will be OK under the organised team sports heading.

However, not sure if group activity holidays will be exempt? I have been on residential walking hols in past, a friend is doing one in Oct and was coming to see us on the way, but I guess it may not go ahead.

A colleague who lives alone and has had no holiday this year, is due to go on a similar one in early Oct. Feel sorry if his gets cancelled, he is really looking forward to it after months at home alone.

Six people (plus potentially a single person bubble) from max 2 households. Whether outside or in. Its much clearer.

Where are people getting this 2 household stuff from? I thought it was just 6 people.

It's daft though - there's a group of seven of us have been meeting for drinks in people's gardens (spaced out). We now have to start leaving someone out each time.

Has anyone seen any detailed guidance on the say the yoga issues and what happens in pubs (eg must they close unless they have hardly anyone in them)? I can see that weddings of 30 are still allowed and large families (I have 5 children) can remain living together where they do but it would be useful to see detailed description of the rules. I will see if the legislation is online now.

Where are people getting this 2 household stuff from? I thought it was just 6 people.

Hmm actually you might be right. Ok perhaps it isn't clearer!

(Regs don't seem to be out/law yet as I just checked and could only see regs such as on Blackburn and Wales as the latest sets)