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What is a support bubble and who can meet up indoors? Credits: Social Media
By Faye Dixon

What is a support bubble and who can meet up indoors?

By Faye Dixon

As England’s lockdown restrictions continue to ease, Boris Johnson announced a change in his recent address to the nation. He hopes to reduce loneliness among those who live alone. But, what is a support bubble and how do they work?

Who is included?

From this Saturday, single adults who live alone in England or single parents who have children under 18 will be allowed to form a support bubble with one other household.

The ‘bubble’ means that those people can visit each other’s homes. Plus, they can meet up inside for the first time since lockdown.

In addition, they will not have to follow social distancing and they can stay overnight. So hugging and other contact will now be legal for those involved.

The second household can be anyone as long as no one involved is shielding.

However, if anyone in the bubble develops covid-19 symptoms, everyone in both households must isolate.

TOPSHOT - Two women observe social distancing measures as they speak to each other from adjacent park benches amidst the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, in the centre of York, northern England on March 19, 2020. (Photo by OLI SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – Two women observe social distancing measures as they speak to each other from adjacent park benches amidst the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, in the centre of York, northern England on March 19, 2020. (Photo by OLI SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

What can I do if I’m not in a support bubble?

If you do not live alone (or with a child under 18) then you cannot meet indoors with anyone else unless you have been chosen as a household in someone else’s support bubble. But, in that case, the other person must live alone.

For example, if your partner is living with their family and you are living with yours and you are not a single parent, the support bubble does not apply to you.

So, for the rest of us, in England, groups of up to six people from different households can gather outside. They can meet in outdoor areas as well as private gardens. But, you must follow social distancing at all times and remain two metres apart.