Sex ban in Tiers 2 & 3 for couples living apart as they’re told they can’t meet indoors when lockdown lifts
A SEX ban is in place for couples living apart in Tier 2 and 3 areas as they are unable to meet indoors once the lockdown is lifted.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock was asked a question about the rules for people in relationships but living in different houses by a member of the public during the Downing Street press conference today.
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A sex ban is in place for couples living apart in Tiers 2 and 3 (stock image)[/caption]Mr Hancock said those living under Tier 2 Covid restrictions would only be able to see each other outside – but stressed those impacted should read the guidance for their area.
Mr Hancock said: “The rules about exactly what is permitted in each of the tiers is on the Gov.uk website.
“I start my answer with that because for everybody watching if you’re in a specific situation, then the best thing to do is to go and look precisely at the rules.
“Now of course I understand the impact on people who are in a long-term relationship and we have made specific provision.
“But the general rule for those who are in Tier 2 is that the rule of six applies outdoors, including for instance in a private garden, but indoors you should only be mixing with people who are in your own household.”
Couples living apart can only “bubble up” if one of them lives alone.
In September, the “sex ban” rule was briefly lifted for couples in “established relationships”, but a spike in Covid cases meant it was re-introduced.
‘UNDER CONTROL’
Mr Hancock added that coronavirus infections are now “back under control” – just as England is set to be plunged into a harsher Tiers system.
He hailed the latest figures showing case rates going down after the month-long lockdown, just as the nation is about to be shoved into a harsh system of tiers keeping pubs closed and stopping people from seeing friends and family.
He claimed that the lockdown has worked in “reducing the pressures on the NHS” and “hope is on the horizon” for Spring.
He stated: “We’ve got this virus back under control, I want to thank you for that.”
And Professor Stephen Powis of NHS England said today that in recent days “we have started to turn the corner” on hospital admissions.
It takes a couple of weeks before the effects of a national lockdown to be shown, he explained today.
He added: “It will be the next week or two where we see the full effects come through.”
The average number of new coronavirus cases has plummeted from a peak of 25,331 in mid-November to 14,778.
Crucially, the R rate – the rate of the transmission of the virus – is just below 1.
This means the national lockdown will be allowed to end in what Mr Hancock and people will be able to reunite with families over Christmas.
NHS FEARS
But the Health Secretary warned there was not much “headroom” and it was still vital new cases continued to go down in order to allow people to celebrate Christmas, without allowing the NHS to become overwhelmed.
He said: “Everyone in England can have some greater freedoms but we don’t have much headroom.
“We can’t allow cases to rise again in the run up to Christmas and with the flu season around the corner.”
More than 23 million people will be under harsh Tier 3 restrictions from Wednesday to try and keep infection rates down in the worst-hit areas.
And this will cause even more heartache for restaurants and pubs who will be forced to close.
Mr Hancock said he hoped mass testing would be able to offer a way for areas to free themselves from the worst of the local lockdown rules.
He said: “(Community testing) will give Tier 3 areas a faster way out of toughest restrictions and come down the Tier ladder.
“By using tests that can turn results around in under 30 mins, we can identify and isolate people who have Covid, and the one in three who don’t have symptoms.”
Asymptomatic cases of coronavirus are a “silent danger”, the Health Secretary warned.
A handful of areas have already taken up the Government’s offer – including Warwickshire and the West Midlands.
Sir Gordon Messenger, the Head of Operations for the Community testing program, admitted he didn’t know how many of the 23 million people under the toughest restrictions they would be able to swab.
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The Health Secretary acknowledge the massive toll the tougher level restrictions would pose to people and businesses – and promised there was hope for a more normal life.
He said: “I know that it weighs heavily. The light of dawn is on the horizon, this is the moment to stand firm before the morning.”
And Mr Hancock buoyed up hopes for areas hoping to escape the brunt of local lockdown restrictions, saying the positive figures from the last few weeks could mean some could climb down to Tier 2.