Can I meet with a total of 7 people if several live together?

[Dramatica321]

Can I? I am planning on going to a friends for dinner. It will be her plus two other friends, me and my boyfriend (who lives with me). Then her parents will be in (2) but a different part of the house (it’s very big). So in total it will be 7 people but Me and my boyfriend live together, and her parents live together?

Yes it might be discriminatory and yes it’s a shit rule but it’s still the rules and we can’t just decide which ones to follow and which ones not to because it’s suits us. That’s the point I’m trying to make. Whether we like them or not the rules are what they are.

But isn't this like all the idiots who gather outside pubs after 10pm, all because you can doesn't mean you should. There is a risk every time a household mixes, so trying to stretch the point of the rule of 6 just because the legislation lets you doesn't mean you should

Whilst there is 'wiggle room' in the wording of the legislation, the intention has always been stated as to limit people in a dwelling (inside or out to 6) - other wise you could in theory have multiple 'gatherings' in one house - for example in a house with 3 toilets, you could argue that one 6 in the garden, and 1 upstairs and a 3rd in front room was 'legal' - but potentially leads to 18 different people from multiple households - so very obviously not what is intended.

This kind of loopholes was exactly what Dominic Cummings used when he left London - the part that allowed you to follow the legislation as far as possible, but making allowances for extenuating circumstances regarding children. (Funnily enough, never widely publicised - but it was there, even during our strictest lockdown)

If you want to bend the 'rules' because you think the legislation has given you that wiggle room, then by all means- go ahead - but it it, and will remain against the spirit of the restrictions - just like what Dom did.

Why do people try to find loopholes?
To put it simply Everyone should be limiting unnecessary contact with other humans
2m distance, masks and hand washing
SIX people in England

And to be clear, I really don't care if my neighbours have a dinner party for 6 whilst the kids are sleeping upstairs, or a family of 6 have a friend over for a coffee in the garden. That's up to individuals to decide. But at least own up to the fact that is what you are doing, instead of these convoluted justifications.

@uncomfortablydumb53

Why do people try to find loopholes? To put it simply Everyone should be limiting unnecessary contact with other humans 2m distance, masks and hand washing SIX people in England

Exactly this. I’m not sure I understand why people right now are even having dinner parties or social gatherings that aren’t necessary.

Some people are above the rules. They try very hard to find ways around the simple rules. Then they justify what they are doing.

This is because they feel more important than the people who are following the rules.

They are a certain type of person.

This type of person is part of a collective who are responsible for the virus becoming out of control. Because the truth is that if everyone did as we have been asked to do then the spread would be much slower.

S I X SIX six 6

Its absolutely farcical and putting bragging photos on FB meeting up with the girls or family practically sitting on top of one another they are so close or similarly out on a SD walk but look to be far too close for comfort all squeezed together in on the photos.

I often think I am in the minority following the rules/guidance.

People just want to use their common sense instead of being treated like babies. When you can see one thing that is allowed is more risky than another thing that isn’t it is frustrating.

But of course the mumsnet righteous have spoken. Making sweeping judgements on peoples characters when’re they don't know the first thing about them. Therefore it isn’t worth arguing.

@steppemum

This is another of the rules that Mumsnetters interpret their own way like 'only one hour of exercise allowed', in England.

you do know there was never any limit on the no of hours you were allowed to exercise for don't you? the one hour was the myth.

Yes, that was my point...

@Didyousaynutella but if everyone makes their own assessments and does everything that they see as 'ok' then that adds to the cumulative risk.

Decisions have had to be made as to where risk can be allowed and where it isn't. Some things have been sacrificed- but if everyone does everything then that approach doesn't work....

" the intention has always been stated as to limit people in a dwelling"

What is your source for this?

The law is clear: "any social gatherings of more than six people will be against the law." There is no mention of the presence of other people in other parts of the dwelling with no contact between them. Although there could be if that were the intention.

@amicissimma

The actual legislation states. "A “gathering” is defined in regulation 5(6) as: “when two or more people are present together in the same place in order to engage in any form of social interaction with each other, or to undertake any other activity with each other."

So the actual argument would be about what constitutes "the same place" - left deliberately wide so that it could encompass all the different aspects outside of a house that people could gather - not to further break down areas inside of an individual household.

It's refreshing to see discussion about the actual text of the regulations, rather than people bullshitting about spirit and other things they've come up with.

Your inside/outside thing is irrelevant. The parents may need to come in to use the bathroom , or if the weather is bad the wont be hanging around outside.

The rule is 6, why are ppl trying their best to get around it.

Lol

@MrsFrisbyMouse, exactly. It's spelled out. The parents are in a separate place, not interacting with the rest of the group, nor undertaking any activity with the rest of the group.

Ie, they are not 'together in the same place in order to engage in any form of social interaction with each other, or to undertake any other activity with each other'.

In fact, from that, it looks as if they walk past the rest of the group for any reason, but do not say hello, they are not breaking the law as they wouldn't be there in order to have social interaction. But, I would say that that would be unwise from an infection transmission POV.

It's breaking the law if you do it. People choose to break the law every day with things like driving through red lights, parking on double yellows, buying alcohol underage, claiming benefits they're not entitled to. It's a line that should be clear (either it's against the law and you don't do it, or it's legal and you do) but in reality each individual will decide where it sits for them.