Is it actually against the law to hug our friends and family?

[Tryingtryingandtrying]

So apparently we have permission to do this from next Monday? It irrationally annoys me that they are implying it's currently against the law? It's not is it?

No. Social distancing has never been a legal requirement, just guidance.

No. 2m is guidance, not law. Shops, pubs, restaurants etc might have been strictly complying.. but it was never against the law to hug other people.

No, guidance only. This annoys me too.

I think it is ridiculous that people think they need permission to hug each other, especially children. So if you go ahead and do it I won't tell anyone.

The implication that it is, and MH can decree that I can hug my Mum is driving me mad.

Is it law or guidance not to go into someone’s house currently?

How the fuck would this be legally enforced anyway? Come on, people.

I’ve lost track of how many non-household people I’ve hugged in the past year. With their consent obviously.

@ASchuylerSister

Is it law or guidance not to go into someone’s house currently?

Not going into another house is law... but many people have been rightfully ignoring that anyway. Is disturbing how many are happy for the powers that be to dictate such an intimate detail of their personal life.

Much as I like the idea that if someone tries to hug me they get sent to the tower of London. It has only ever been guidance that people shouldn't hug.

m-huffingtonpost-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/coronavirus-hugging-may17-gove-lockdown_uk_6097a3d2e4b05fb33f4de4a6/?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQHKAFQArABIA%3D%3D#aoh=16205916938385&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.co.uk%2Fentry%2Fcoronavirus-hugging-may17-gove-lockdown_uk_6097a3d2e4b05fb33f4de4a6 This is the sort of thing I mean, and it looks like Michael Gove who has said Boris is going to allow it from next Monday.

@ASchuylerSister It is currently against the law in England to meet someone from a different household in their house unless an exemption applies. If the government sticks to the "road map", that will change from 17 May (at which point I believe we'll be allowed to meet indoors in groups of up to six, or more than that if it's only two households meeting).

Michael Gove has said I'm allowed to hug my grandchildren as of 17th May. Hahahaha. Some frickin' dystopian push notification right there.

Michael Gove can kiss my arse as of 17th May. Twat.

There was never a ban on hugging. Maybe some guidance, but that was it.

I have hugged my parents and sister whenever I have seen them throughout and I never had any intention of letting me government force me to treat my family like lepers.

I'm so glad we as a family took this stance even though we don't live near each other. Our Dad became terminally ill earlier this year (not Covid related) and died in March. I'd never have forgiven myself if I had let me chance to give him a few last hugs pass me by for any reason at all.

Gove was the twat who uttered those careless and inaccurate comments about only being allowed out for 1 hour of exercise a day. The trouble was that people took him seriously and the nation's army of curtain twitchers went into overdrive.

Take anything he says with a ton of salt.

When Gove came on the telly yesterday both DH and I wondered what clanger he would drop this time that everyone would think was law. Not hugging is guidance/advice not law.

Gove also said that we wouldn't be wearing masks about 2 days before it was decreed that we would be wearing masks, also of course the infamous hour of exercise, I dread each time he comes on TV and opens his mouth, if Boris should ever go, this could be our alternative...

We mute Gove whenever he comes on.

Advice or law ... does it matter?

Cant we celebrate that we've done so well with the virus that hugging people is becoming a lot less risky in spreading a novel virus?

Surely that's a good thing?

I've hugged my mum and daughter every time I've seen them, it is merely guidance! I even give my best friend a big hug on Saturday, because I wanted to, hell I even sat inside when it pissed down outside! It was lovely to sit and chat and have a vin or 3!

I think its hilarious the number of people saying they're delighted they're 'allowed' to hug relatives and friends from next week because the bloody government say they can.

Ffs. I'm all for sticking to the rules but come on are people really waiting for the government go ahead??

I haven't hugged family because I've been working throughout this and there's been a few outbreaks at work. However my Mum has now has both her jags, I've had one and I do LFT twice weekly. So it feels a lot safer given that to hug again. I really couldn't give a flying fuck if Nicola Sturgeon 'allows' it or not.

The risk won't be lessened because she does, we've decided to be sensible adults and weigh up the risks and base our action on that.

I've hugged a few people in the past year, checking that they're comfortable with it. Friends that I know have been more cautious, I've refrained with.

I can respect people's caution, but I find it sad where people have withdrawn affection just because they mistakenly through it was the rules or law. It was never more than advice.

If it was only advice, why are they now telling us it is 'allowed'?