Number of households allowed indoors?

[Mumof3cherubs]

Since July I thought the guidelines for the number of households allowed indoors was two. So when I’ve visited my sister, even without the rest of my household my brother was unable to join us as that would have made it 3 households. I’m confused and wondering if we’d got this wrong as of Monday we can mix up to 6 households so I can go to my sisters , my brother can join us as can my other sister up to six people So this is an easing of restrictions if we leave the kids at home. Or have I got the current guidelines wrong? I can only find on the government website the rules as of Monday. (I’m trying to find some positive in the rule changes as we are a family of 5)

It was two households, but apparently people were getting confused by what ‘household’ meant & thought it included extended family. So now it’s 6 people regardless of household. As I understand it, anyway.

In England, it’s six people. Households are irrelevant.

Yes, I think you're right. My sister and family live in Scotland but recently travelled down to visit my Dad. I would have loved to pop round, I haven't seen my sister since last Christmas, but I didn't as that would have been three households mixing. Under the new rules I think it would be OK as still only six people. Obviously not if I took my husband and children too as then we would make a group of ten, but I think under the new rules I could go on my own.

Are you in Scotland or England? England is max 6 people, Scotland is max 6 people from 2 households

Yes in effect for many people its an easing of reatrictions as you can now have 6 different househoods represented in one room.... drinks/book club/ party...

In England its a maximum of 6 including children.

In Scotland its 6 ppl but a maximum of 2 households. Children under 12 dont count in the number.

I think ppl knew what a household meant but they took the piss. It is the same as those abusing the support bubble.

It’s summarised here...

Forgot to post to the link to the bbc article that image is from.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-51506729

Apparently Chris Witty wanted it to be 2 households in England but was persuaded to change his mind.

www.itv.com/news/2020-09-11/rule-of-six-coronavirus-restrictions-explained-for-england-northern-ireland-scotland-and-wales

better

It doesn't really make sense on my individual level - we were meeting up with a other family for outside walks (4+ 4 =8). So minimial risk as outside and 2 households and now not allowed.

Yet I could have 5 mum friends over from different families....

I want to be able to go walking with other families!

The whole thing is bonkers. Including children under 11 in the count jn England is nuts. Enjoy Sunday FunDay tomorrow!!!!!!!

@Bateshotel

What I find confusing is this particular exemption on the gov.uk website: ‘where everyone lives together or is in the same support bubble‘

what is a support bubble? We have formed a ‘bubble’ with our siblings and their kids since the main lockdown ended and we only socialise together and everyone works from home. Now kids at school (but so ate everyone’s). So is this still my bubble?

A support bubble is a single adult family bubbled with another family. So mum, dad and two children could bubble with mum & 3 children but not another mum, dad & 2 children. It was to prevent single people being completely isolated.

This is why the new rules have come in.

If you’re in England, the “support bubble” is only for single adults with or without children to join one other household.

I thought this was pretty clear but people obviously haven’t understood and taken liberties with the term to fit what they want.

Where’s that from @colouringindoors? It looks an interesting article.

I’m in England, removing the household limit and introducing the rule of six will mean less socialising with the kids but more opportunity to socialise in someone’s house wIth more adults from other households. It’s as if this new supposedly more simple rule eases restrictions in a way that could have the opposite effect as to what the government would want. I hope they adopt the Scottish approach and introduce a household limit, but not include children.

@Bateshotel

What I find confusing is this particular exemption on the gov.uk website: ‘where everyone lives together or is in the same support bubble‘

what is a support bubble? We have formed a ‘bubble’ with our siblings and their kids since the main lockdown ended and we only socialise together and everyone works from home. Now kids at school (but so ate everyone’s). So is this still my bubble?

Under the guidelines it is not possible for you to form a bubble with your siblings and their families. Only a single adult household can form a bubble with one other household. So you didnt "form a bubble", you just broke the guidelines (no judgement here, I did the same, just making it clear.

Under the current guidelines, you should have socially distanced from your family, and under the new law if you meet up and there are more than 6 of you, it would be illegal. (And if there are 6 or fewer you should still social distance).

I dont agree with it , but if you wanted to follow the letter of the law, that is it.

purple its from today's Times which i actually bought as it has an excellent article from Janice Turner too. In the paper the article is titled "Tories beg for answers as PMs Zoom rally turns farcical.

In England, it’s six people. Households are irrelevant

This
From what I understand though even though we're a family of 4 MIL counts as our household too.
(Bubble and all that)
So last week we could have met up with my Mum and Dad at the same time as being with MIL but technically not now as that makes seven.
Or can see my brother and his wife if they come over but not my sister, BIL and niece/nephew as they'd be more than two added on.
Sticking to it, really wish everyone else would too then the sooner all this could be over

Are people being deliberately obtuse re that newspaper extract..or are we really living in a country where significant numbers do not understand the meaning of 'household'? Doesn't do much to give us confidence.

I really think stricter measures are required. Nobody in our street has lots of visitors. If the virus is spreading, it's in cafes, restaurants, pubs, or even trying to pass people in shops or streets as the 2m rule seems to have been forgotten. Its not spreading in our homes.