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Original poster

Rule of six having friends over question

88 replies

BumbleBee5w · 13/10/2020 16:01

If I had a night in with 5 friends while my children were in bed and husband upstairs with them would that be breaking rules? With absolute certainly no meeting of more than 6 people. We have a downstairs loo sp no going upstairs from guests....

OP posts:
Janus · 13/10/2020 17:48

I’m pretty sure it’s 6 in a house (I started a thread as we are a family of 6 and teenager wanted friends around so I thought we could camp upstairs for a few hours!!).
I think in a restaurant you have to use hand sanitizer as you go in, masks on, masks to go to the toilet, leave any germs at the restaurant not on your own furniture etc etc!! You wouldn’t make friends wear masks would you? Would you maybe give a quick hug goodbye in your own house? So a restaurant probably is safer. But it sucks!!

DamitJanet · 13/10/2020 17:53

The government did confirm at some point that it was six in the house total. Otherwise I guess you could have large parties but only six to a room. I believe at the time lawyers were quoted as saying it wouldn’t stand up in court though.
Personally I wouldn’t do it, but plenty would.

Torvean32 · 13/10/2020 18:05

Just takes that 1 person with it indoors to spread. Some scientists say droplets can last on surfaces much longer than past thought.
So is it worth it ?

sunflowers246 · 13/10/2020 18:06

Otherwise I guess you could have large parties but only six to a room

And you could rotate around Grin

LST · 13/10/2020 18:07

We're doing it this weekend. DP is having 5 friends over at 8. Me and the kids are having films and popcorn upstairs. No one has any need to come upstairs as we have a downstairs loo.

NotAKaren · 13/10/2020 18:09

Look it's not difficult, no more than six. The reason we are in this mess is because people are constantly trying to find loopholes or reasons why the rules don't apply to them or think it's alright for me because I saw someone in Tesco once not wearing a mask.

MissPoldark · 13/10/2020 18:26

Do you have the space to all keep 2 metres apart? (Assuming you’re all in different households)

Doseydots · 13/10/2020 18:32

NotAKaren

Look it's not difficult, no more than six. The reason we are in this mess is because people are constantly trying to find loopholes or reasons why the rules don't apply to them or think it's alright for me because I saw someone in Tesco once not wearing a mask.

I totally agree. What is wrong with people.

MissPoldark · 13/10/2020 18:39

To be honest I don’t know why they didn’t keep the ‘2 households’ rule when meeting socially.
The new rule of 6 has led to more people mixing.

ChaChaCha2012 · 13/10/2020 18:48

@JellyBabiesSaveLives You can't selectively quote legislation, it has to be interpreted in its entirety. When you do read it fully, and understand the intent behind the legislation, it's clear that everyone in the household is included in the six person limit.

sunflowers246 · 13/10/2020 20:19

We're doing it this weekend. DP is having 5 friends over at 8. Me and the kids are having films and popcorn upstairs. No one has any need to come upstairs as we have a downstairs loo.

It's not about coming into contact with people on another floor. It's about reducing the chance of passing on the virus. The more people you invite into your house, the higher the chance of someone passing it onto your household.

Cinderellashoes · 13/10/2020 20:22

Whether or not it’s breaking rules, is it really sensible? Give it two weeks and see how you feel. I do think this is how Covid is spreading though - people wanting to go on about their business as normal. I get it, I really do. I just think we need to be prepared to sacrifice socialisation for a while.

LST · 13/10/2020 20:23

@sunflower but if me and the kids were out that would reduce? Dp would be doing nothing wrong if he lived alone. We both work dp out of the house and the kids both go to school. It is a small risk.

sunflowers246 · 13/10/2020 20:30

Yes true, but I still feel that the purpose of the rule of 6 at home is to limit the number of people coming into your house and potentially infecting you all, even if some family members are temporarily out.

So if you're already a family of six, probably best not to have any others over for the time being.

Szyz2020 · 13/10/2020 20:33

www.thesun.co.uk/news/12663665/coronavirus-rule-small-print-kids-asleep/

Sorry it’s from the Sun

Willyoujustbequiet · 13/10/2020 20:37

Its not allowed

Please don't listen to the idiots that say just do it. Its this kind of attitude that has left us in the mess we are in

LulaLuna · 13/10/2020 20:42

The virus is spread in an aerosol form... you dont have to be near someone to inhale the virus..the same way one can spray deoderant one end of a room and someone inhales some on the otherside of the room. Please be careful about meeting indoors without masks.

PurpleDaisies · 13/10/2020 20:44

It would be a million times safer than going out to a restaurant.

Based on what?

LST · 13/10/2020 20:46

@willyoujustbequiet how about take heed of your own user name 👍

Totopoly · 13/10/2020 20:52

Who is really going to come and count, OP? Yes, it would be exceeding the "plucked from the air" figure of six - but really? Who actually cares?

Totopoly · 13/10/2020 20:54

@Willyoujustbequiet

Its not allowed

Please don't listen to the idiots that say just do it. Its this kind of attitude that has left us in the mess we are in

No it isn't. We are in the mess we are in because we're dealing with a virus, not a concrete 'enemy'. I don't get why Covid is so special, when anyone vulnerable is equally vulnerable to the other horrible stuff which does the rounds.
MiddlesexGirl · 13/10/2020 20:55

I believe that if you look at the small print of the government guidelines this is permitted so long as there is no mingling between the six and the other members of the household.

Frequentcarpetflyer · 13/10/2020 21:12

@NotAKaren

Look it's not difficult, no more than six. The reason we are in this mess is because people are constantly trying to find loopholes or reasons why the rules don't apply to them or think it's alright for me because I saw someone in Tesco once not wearing a mask.
It is difficult though. They chose the word "gathering", which is open to interpretation, rather than "house", "home" or "property".
MsTSwift · 13/10/2020 21:15

Technically no. The non attenders are upstairs so not part of the gathering which is limited to 6. I had this dilemma - we solved it by going to a pub

Pipandmum · 13/10/2020 21:18

My friend is having five of is over for her birthday dinner. Her son and husband will be upstairs. They are not part of the 'gathering'. Use common sense: you could have those five people out at a restaurant and it would be acceptable for the rest of your family to be at the next table.