People living alone can now form 'support bubbles' to end coronavirus lockdown loneliness

Shops in England are preparing to re-open from Monday Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA

People living alone in England can form “support bubbles” with other households from Saturday, ending weeks of isolation under lockdown.

The latest easing of lockdown measures means those who live by themselves will be able to visit and hug members from one other household for the first time in more than 10 weeks.

Couples who do not live together have been required to remain two metres apart if they meet outdoors but they will now be able to stay overnight at each others’ homes, if one of the couple currently lives alone.

It comes ahead of further easing of lockdown measures in England on Monday, which will see the reopening of non-essential shops on Monday.

In Northern Ireland – which is adopting a similar relaxation of the regulations for people living alone – the shops began opening their doors on Friday.

Announcing the plan for “support bubbles” earlier this week, Boris Johnson said it was a “targeted intervention” designed to help those most isolated by the lockdown.

However, the latest batch of papers released by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) revealed misgivings among the experts at the prospect of social bubbling.

Shops in Northern Ireland began reopening their doors on Friday. Credit: PA

A report of its meeting on May 13 urged “strong caution” warning it could create “significant unwanted effects” – particularly if it was introduced alongside other easing of the rules.

It said there was “significant potential risk” if larger households are allowed to bubble together – something the Government is not currently proposing.

Instead it has said that adults living alone or single parents with children under 18 can pair up with one other household of any size.

Shops in Belfast began re-opening on Friday Credit: Brian Lawless/PA

They will then effectively be treated as a single household for the purpose of the rules – with members able to visit indoors without the need to follow the two-metre rule.

While the bubble plan is clearly popular with many, it is nevertheless likely to reignite concerns that the Government is moving too quickly as it seeks to re-start the economy.

The Prime Minister and his chief medical and scientific advisers have faced growing criticism that they were to slow to impose the lockdown in March, resulting in thousands of deaths.

At the same time, Mr Johnson is under intense pressure to get the economy going again amid fears that it could take years to fully recover.

The cost of the restrictions was dramatically underlined by official showing GDP shrank by a fifth in April in an unprecedented fall-off as activity ground to a halt.

The new rules could be good news for some people hoping to visit their grandchildren (stock image). Credit: PA

The Prime Minister acknowledged the economy had been “very badly hit” but predicted it would “bounce back” as confidence returned.

However, there are fears of further job losses ahead as the Government’s furlough scheme – which has seen the state pays up to 80% of employees wages – begins to unwind from August.

Mr Johnson is planning to visit a high street next week, according to The Times, as he seeks to persuade people that it is safe to go out and start spending.

Meanwhile, the Government is facing is continuing calls to relax the two-metre rule – with businesses warning that it is hampering the return to normal activity.

The hospitality sector in particular has said re-opening many pubs and restaurants will not be viable while the restriction remains in place.

Graph showing the number of coronavirus deaths in England. Credit: PA Graphics

The Prime Minister is said to be keen to lift the rule – which is also seen as an obstacle to the wider re-opening of many schools.

However, the Sage papers show that some of the scientists advising the Government believe it remains necessary.

A paper from the Environmental and Modelling Group dated June 4 said that reducing it to a one metre rule, as some are calling for, could increase the risks of passing on the disease between two and 10 times.

It suggested that, as a minimum, any easing should be accompanied by the wearing of face masks or face coverings.

Overall, however, it concluded that people should “continue to observe a distance of two metres when face to face and avoid prolonged exposure to other people”.

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