Romantic dates and staying at a friend’s house to be made illegal
A PROPOSED new law will make it illegal for couples who live in different homes to meet for an indoor romantic liaison and then stay overnight during the coronavirus lockdown.
The Government’s Health Protection Regulations had previously banned people leaving home without “reasonable excuse”.
However, the law which was laid before MPS yesterday said that “no person may participate in a gathering which takes place in a public or private place outdoors and consists of more than six persons, or indoors and consists of two or more persons”.
It defined a gathering 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”.
A separate provision made it illegal to stay overnight away from home “without reasonable excuse”, which could include moving home, going to work, attending funerals or providing care. Downing Street yesterday insisted that police would show “discretion” and “common sense” in enforcing the law.
The proposed measures were reflected in newly issued Government guidance yesterday which made clear that people “cannot stay overnight away from your own home, except for in a limited set of circumstances, such as for work purposes”.
It added that guests at garden parties will be risking a £100 fine if they poke around the householder’s shed or garage.
As the coronavirus lockdown started to ease, official advice published yesterday offering the “dos” and “don’ts” of the measures stated that up to six people from different households could meet outside in gardens or on roof terraces. However, the guidance – which is expected to trigger a surge in garden parties – warned that guests must remain outside and two metres apart – and they must not use the opportunity to look around a householder’s garage or shed.
It said: “If you no longer want to remain outdoors, you should go home. Don’t go into garages, sheds or cabins – these are all indoor areas where the risk of transmission is higher.”
Guests at garden parties should also bring their own chairs for family barbecues and resist offers – however pressing – to borrow a tennis racquet for a quick knock-up with the host.
The guidance said: “You should not be sharing garden equipment with people outside of your household because of the risk of transmission.
“You could bring your own or if you have to use chairs, for example, you should wipe them down carefully with
‘You cannot stay overnight away from your own home, except for in a limited set of circumstances, such as work’
household cleaner before and after use.
“You should try to avoid shared equipment, for example you should use your own tennis racquet, golf club or basketball.
“Any equipment that is used should be cleaned frequently. Cleaning should be particularly thorough if it is to be used by someone else.”
The Whitehall guidance said that plunging into the host’s swimming pool was also a no-no: “You should avoid using paddling pools and private swimming pools with people outside of your household.”
To drive home the message, penalties increased yesterday, with police now able to issue fines of £100 for a first offence, rising to £400 for a third offence, £1,600 for a fifth offence and then up to a maximum of £3,200.