Rule of six and children under five

[Beepbopadooda]

Has anyone seen anything about whether or not children u5 are included in rule of 6 from 29th March?

I would assume they are, I thought the exemption during lockdown was just so parents of under 5s weren’t completely excluded from a walk with one other.

To add though, it is now rule of 6 or two households, so numbers don’t matter if it is only two households together

Surely a baby in a pram wouldn't count. Its just too vague. As always.

From what I have read in rule of 6 they count but if 2 households doesn't matter how many kids there are.

Why would a baby not count? They are a person. Children were never excluded from the rule of six so can’t see that happening now.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021/covid-19-response-spring-2021

It's rule of six OR two households of any size OP.

@Viviennemary @IceCreamAndCandyfloss

The legislation coming in to force Monday is crystal clear actually. Under 5's don't count, same as last lockdown.

[quote CovidPostingName]**@Viviennemary* @IceCreamAndCandyfloss*

The legislation coming in to force Monday is crystal clear actually. Under 5's don't count, same as last lockdown.[/quote]
Where in the legislation does it say that they don't count in the Rule of 6?

Where in the legislation does it say that they don't count in the Rule of 6?
Do you have a link for that?

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Why would a baby not count? They are a person. Children were never excluded from the rule of six so can’t see that happening now.

For social distancing purposes it’s obvious that they shouldn’t count, being virtually immobile (eg a baby strapped to your chest in a sling is 2 metres away by default).

The government's guidance isn’t exactly explicit on this issue, but since children under 5 won’t count as part of the 15-person limit to organised children activities, it’s assumed the same will be true of the rule of six.

I’m sure that will make some MNetters very angry indeed.

The guidance says they are not included in the activities but there’s not that clause in the rule of six.

For social distancing purposes it’s obvious that they shouldn’t count, being virtually immobile (eg a baby strapped to your chest in a sling is 2 metres away by default)
Can you imagine if this reasoning was applied to everything what with 67 million people each having different ways of deciding?

The government's guidance isn’t exactly explicit on this issue, but since children under 5 won’t count as part of the 15-person limit to organised children activities, it’s assumed the same will be true of the rule of six
It is totally explicit as it doesn't mention under-5s exemption.

As mum to a six month old who is either attached to me or in the pram, I'm potentially as annoyed as anyone that babies/ under 5s look to be counted in the rule of six.

I think it's pretty clear that U5s DO count or else it would be mentioned.

BUT the ability for two households to meet is a HUGE improvement. For the time being, I'll take that and make the most of it.

The legislation DOES NOT provide an exception for children under 5 for the rule of six. There IS however the 2 household exception.

So the legislation IS that under 5 count for the rule of six. Legally, wording has to be explicit with a clear exception clause - this does not exist for the rule of six. By contrast there are a couple of places in the legislation (parent and child groups for example) which DO mention an under 5 exception but rule of six is NOT.

I think they do count but I won’t be counting my 6 month old when given the new 2 household rule 2 student houses of 10 people each could meet legally but I can’t meet 6 mums from my NCT group with our babies in prams.

@Viviennemary

Surely a baby in a pram wouldn't count. Its just too vague. As always.

Counts as one. It’s six people regardless of the age or as many as you like from two households.

Seriously, is anyone actually going to include their child in the rule of 6? I’m not. I’ve got various meet ups planned over Easter with up to 6 adults & our kids. The rules make no sense.

Under 5’s currently don’t count, so implied they aren’t much of risk. I met up with a friend yesterday & we both have two kids under 5 plus she has a 3rd newborn. So the 4 of them played together in the park & the baby slept in the pram. But from Monday, suddenly that’s not allowed. Suddenly that’s 7 people are far too risky. 🙄 oh and if children are at say a toddler group or playing organised football, up to 15 of them at once with 15 adults as well is fine. But 6 of them in a park with their 6 parents who are friends. Not covid safe. Yeh OK.

Also if anyone asks, my NCT friends are a parental support group. No two ways about it.

@HolmeH

Seriously, is anyone actually going to include their child in the rule of 6? I’m not. I’ve got various meet ups planned over Easter with up to 6 adults & our kids. The rules make no sense.

Under 5’s currently don’t count, so implied they aren’t much of risk. I met up with a friend yesterday & we both have two kids under 5 plus she has a 3rd newborn. So the 4 of them played together in the park & the baby slept in the pram. But from Monday, suddenly that’s not allowed. Suddenly that’s 7 people are far too risky. 🙄 oh and if children are at say a toddler group or playing organised football, up to 15 of them at once with 15 adults as well is fine. But 6 of them in a park with their 6 parents who are friends. Not covid safe. Yeh OK.

Yes, I am because I want to do everything I possibly can to make sure the June release dates don't get delayed.

What you've described with ONE friend plus children is still fine from Monday because it's TWO households, which is allowed.

The issue with not counting children isn't that children per se are safe/unsafe, it's then the number of people mixing potentially goes up significantly.

This kind of attitude really gets on my wick because for once we finally have a clearly laid out plan which actually feels like it should be achievable, and is already permitting more socialising than we've had for ages, but some people still need to flout the law. But then why let small details like that get in the way of your precious Easter plans?

Honestly, who gives a fuck? Half the adult population and all the at risk population are now vaccinated. Exercise some judgement and take your life back.

Simple Politics are usually great at this, and they’ve said the exemption has been removed, and all children count as a person for the rule of six.

@FoxtrotSkarloey - thanks, I won’t. I’ve followed pretty much every rule. My entire calendar is now filled with outdoors plans where the risk is vanishingly small. In Scotland, who’ve generally handled all this much better than we have, children under 12 don’t count. A much better decision. I’ll enjoy spring & summer thanks ✌🏻

I would count children in the rule of 6 but not babes in arms. Nobody is going to report a group of 7 if one of them was a baby.

It's different this time anyway because of the two household rule (and remember if both households have support bubbles, that's four households).

@HolmeH You can't pick and choose the bits of different rules to justify what you want to do! Yes, children don't count towards the six in Scotland but they are still bound by the max. of two households.