England to get 'social bubbles' so those living alone can visit loved ones
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that people living alone in England are to be allowed to visit one other household without social distancing.
The move, which will also apply to single parents, will apply from Saturday.
The "social bubbles" will apply to just one other household.
At today's Downing Street briefing he said: "On social contact I know how difficult the past months have been for people cut off from their friends and family.
"Last Monday we relaxed the rules on meeting outdoors so that groups of up to six could gather, provided they are socially distant.
"We did so in the knowledge that transmission of the virus is much lower outdoors so we could make this change in a safe way, but there are too many people – still too many people, particularly those who live by themselves – who are lonely and struggling with being unable to see friends and family.
“So from this weekend we will allow single adult households – adults living alone or single parents with children under 18 – to form a support bubble with one other household.
“All those in a support bubble will be able to act as if they live in the same household, meaning they can spend time together inside each other's homes and do not need to stay two metres apart.
“I want to stress that support bubbles must be exclusive, meaning you can't switch the household you are in a bubble with or connect with multiple households. And if any member of the support bubble develops symptoms all members need to follow the normal advice on household isolation.
“We are making this change to support those who were particularly lonely as a result of lockdown. It is a targeted intervention to limit the most harmful effects of the current social restrictions.
"It is emphatically not designed for people who do not qualify to start meeting inside other peoples' homes, because that remains against the law.”