REUNITED!

RULE OF SIX RETURNS FOR OUTDOOR MEET-UPS

FAMILIES and friends will be reunited today as lockdown restrictions in England are eased.

As of today, groups of up to six people, from any number of households, or a group of any size from up to two households, will be allowed to meet up outside.

It is the first time large groups are allowed to gather since the lockdown came in, after the first step of easing measures on March 8 saw two people from different households allowed to spend time together outdoors without the need for exercise.

In addition, outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts will also be welcoming people back from today.

Here is everything you need to know about the changes in place.

Limited social gatherings allowed

The rule of six returns from today allowing groups to mix outdoors.

People will be able to meet up with up to six people from different households, or more than six people if they are from just two households.

That means, for example, that two households with four people each would be allowed to spend time as a group of eight. Gatherings will only be allowed to take place outdoors, which includes in parks or private gardens.

Those who are in a support bubble still count as one household.

Government guidance says that anyone from different households should still keep a two metre distance.

The current ban on indoor meetings remains.

Outdoor parent groups will also be allowed to meet from today, with a limit of up to 15 parents. Children under five years of age do not count towards the attendee limit.

Working from home

Under the current guidance, the government has insisted that everyone who “can work from home must do so”, but from today the language has changed to say that “people should continue to work from home where they can”.

Going on holiday

Guidance against people staying away from their main residence overnight is also still in place. Holidays abroad are still banned. Anyone caught travelling to an airport for a flight without a good reason now faces £5,000 fine.

Exemptions to the travel ban are in place for work, study, moving house or attending a major family event such as a birth, wedding or funeral.

Fines for breaching rules

The police can take action against you if you meet in larger groups without a valid reason.

You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

You can be fined £800 if you attend a private gathering such as a house party of over 15 people from outside your household, which will double for each repeat offence to a maximum level of £6,400.

If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of more than 30 people, the police can issue fines of £10,000.

Limits on weddings and funerals

Weddings will no longer be limited to just exceptional circumstances from today. This means anyone wishing to tie the knot can do so – but only with up to six attendees. Rules around funerals are unchanged.

Ban on protests lifted

Protests will be allowed under an exemption from the ban on gatherings if they are organised by a business, public or political body, or other group and satisfy risk assessments by police including to maintain social distancing.