Are we allowed 7 people in our house in different rooms?

[Firefliess]

DSD and her BF have come to stay this weekend. We also have DD and DSS and me and DH at home, so that makes 6 of us. DD wants her BF to stay over tomorrow night. I can't figure out whether that's allowed or not. It would mean 7 people in the house, but in no sense would we be "gathering" DD and her BF would get in late and go straight to her room. Rest of us probably we wouldn't even see him. Is that allowed? Or are people considered to be "gathering" simply by being in the same house? We're in England by the way and not in an area with any local lockdown

The law says what you thought - the thing that is not allowed is a gathering of more than 6 for the purpose of social interaction. Numbers of people in the building are not mentioned.

However, the government advice on its own law says something different. Hence the confusion.

Fascinating debate and thanks for starting this thread. It is definitely a "gathering". The guidance also talks about meeting in "groups" of 6, not 6 people in a house.

Technically not but who on earth is going to know?

I can’t get excited about this while pubs and schools and shops are open.

You don't have to socially distance from an "established" partner, so no rule breaking there

Don't think the guidance attached.

Regardless of numbers, he’s someone from another household as is your DD and her bf, really shouldn’t have 2 lots of visitors as that becomes 3 households.

It’s the rule of six. Not seven. And for those “interpreting the law”, I’m sure you’re right. The chances of being prosecuted in these circumstances are minuscule.

However, we are supposed to be following this guidance so that stricter rules don’t have to be enforced. Think about that.

The faster people like the OP can stick to these rules, the faster I won’t have to split my family up to meet my DM, DB, DSIL and DN. We’re not allowed in their house after driving 100 miles so have to meet outdoors.

The faster people like the OP can stick to these rules, the faster my friend whose father is in a dementia home can visit him and hug him before he forgets who she is.

The faster people like the OP can stick to these rules, the faster my five year old can stop being disappointed that another birthday party is cancelled.

I can go on.

Suck it up OP, tell your DD’s boyfriend to come next week or send her to his.

*Technically not but who on earth is going to know?

I can’t get excited about this while pubs and schools and shops are open.*

Spectacularly missing the point on 2 counts!

Some areas don't have a limit on number of households

No. I have five children so we are just us unless someone goes out.

@Ffsnosexallowed again, using some common sense - if the daughter and her boyfriend have their own bathroom to use then they don’t have to share facilities with anyone in the house, so it’s definitely not a gathering is it. It’s not in ‘the rules’ 🙄 but hopefully people are still capable of using a bit of their own judgement and common sense

Totally not missing the point, Poldark.

I get that the point is to minimise contacts and keep the economy ticking over. Just... no way in hell am I doing it when it’s such low risk compared to meeting in a pub etc.

I think part of reason for confusion is that Government aren't clear on purpose of rule. Possibly on purpose.

I dont think rule is primarily to stop spread i.e. two families of 4 meeting regularly is less risk than 6 different randomers every day. But it is easy to enforce where police want to break up a gathering - more than 6 no debate. It also makes it easy for people on internet and self appointed neighbourhood watch dogs to condemn people breaking rules.

Just do it. Even if your issued a fine it would need to go to court to enforce the fine.

And right here is the problem we've got. "The law applies to everyone except me"

Student houses are often occupied by six students or more. So technically they could for the next six months not have any close contact with their partner. Seems insane to me

@lunalulu

Is it maybe a support bubble? So ok?

Give me strength.

Are some people really that stupid that they don’t understand the 6 person rule? It’s not hard to understand, 6 people in your house or outside/garden at any one time, most transitions are within households, get together, kids parties and now obviously schools/uni. The rule is there for a reason so stop trying to look for loop holes and excuses.

Tbh I wouldn’t be allowing anyone to stay at my house right now even if I would be within the 6 rule.

Do you have to count the cats too??? Probably agIainst the rules...the rules now..the rules will change. I wouldnt worry too much.

The wording around gatherings in a home will either have been deliberate or it's a loophole.

Moving to common sense then, what is the risk if 2 of the 7 keep separate from the other 5? They use one bathroom which is thoroughly cleaned afterwards. They ensure they don't meet in the kitchen, pass in hallways etc. And clean taps, cupboard handles etc in kitchen after touching.

We're then in the same position as an office of more than 6 people where the kitchen is open and people are using fridges.

I am (another) lawyer and I think that splitting the 7 into two groups complies with the law and also (provided you do the social distancing, the hand washing and the cleaning) the spirit of it, which is to stop people passing the virus to each other.

This was your question OP: Are we allowed 7 people in our house in different rooms
The answer if you are in England: unless all 7 are permanently resident at that address the answer is no.

Technically it’s breaking the rules but I’d let them.

the poster above...do you really think that adherence to these rules will avoid stricter rules? Of course not. Its all planned out already. Increase the fear so that people will have the vaccine.

‘Even twins’ - yes amazingly enough twins are two full human individuals in their own right not half a person each 🙄

OP - 7 does break the rule, sorry.

@Nikori

I wonder how the Queen copes with this. Surely with her staff there must be more than 6 people in the house at one time.

I have also wondered this! But I suppose if they all live there they count as one household and if they don’t, it counts as a workplace.

yeah on balance I'd let them too, associated risk seems tiny if none of you are going to come into contact. hardly a gathering