Yahoo News New lockdown easing measures will not help families of six or more, George Eustice admits
Families of six or more will be unable to meet with additional people outside of their households in one go, the Environment Secretary has said.
George Eustice admitted that the Government’s new lockdown policy, which allows individuals to meet in capped groups in parks and private gardens from Monday, will not help larger families who already make up this limit.
He said the Government “had to draw a line somewhere” and suggested a solution would be for some family members to go and meet grandparents or friends while others stay at home.
It comes as the Prime Minster timetabled the easing of restrictions over the coming weeks after saying five key tests in the battle against Covid-19 were being met.
Mr Eustice was asked by a member of the public called Claire whether her family of six would be able to meet other people together and extend their social circle under the new rules.
“We think that six is about a sensible level," he replied on BBC Breakfast.
“We know that the risk of transmission outdoors is actually very low, but obviously if you’ve got lots of people crowded in a garden, if you’ve got two families of six crowded in, obviously that starts to be more difficult to maintain social distancing."
Pushed again on whether a family of six could meet anyone else, Mr Eustice added: “Obviously if they are six on their own then the answer is these rules don’t really help them very much if they want to meet as a full family.
“But for instance, if Claire wanted to go with two of the children and take them to see for instance their grandparents if they have grandparents, or uncles, they would be able to do so.
“So you have to draw a line somewhere otherwise it goes on and on.”
From Monday in England, individuals will be able to meet in groups of up to six people from different households outside, either in parks or now also in private gardens, as long as people remain two metres apart.
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