First HUG with Nana in three months! Emotional moment children embrace their grandparents as Britons are allowed to people from other houses in their Covid ‘support bubbles’ today
- Government have announced that households can now form ‘support bubbles’
- Adults who live alone or with children under 18 can visit a friend from Saturday
- Thousands of young children have now been reunited with family members
- Boris Johnson outlined how measure was designed to help the worst affected
- Have you formed a support bubble? Email [email protected]
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Young children shared an emotional hug with their grandparents on Saturday for the first time in three months after the government approved the creation of coronavirus ‘support bubbles’ between two households.
The latest easing of lockdown policies first introduced in March were ‘a targeted intervention to limit the most harmful effects of the current social restrictions’, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
This has seen many children reunited with grandparents while those hit hardest by isolation have been able to seek out much-needed support, with couples now able to stay overnight at each others’ homes, if one currently lives alone.
On Twitter, Gareth Snow shared the uplifting moment his five-year-old daughter Heidi hugged her grandma for the first time in three months.
He said: ‘One of the days to remember during lockdown. My little girl getting to hug her nana for the first time in 3 months.’
Gareth, from Worthing, told MailOnline: ‘It was very special. Heidi has been desperate to hug and see her nana again. It’s been a long three months!’
James Deighton also captured a touching reunion as his mother embraced her grandchildren, captioning the exchange as ‘Nana cuddles.’
The two young children can be seen receiving kisses from their relative as a semblance of normality begins to return.
The new measures do not apply to multiple-adult households or to vulnerable people who are shielding.
There will also be further steps taken on Monday, with non-essential shops also allowed to open their doors once again.
On Twitter, another user took a light-hearted view of what the new rules may bring.
They said: ‘I can open my #supportbubble today. Never felt vulnerable until I had a bubble dedicated to me. My parents won the bubble lottery, it’s Saturday so looking forward to getting my pocket money later, a bag of quavers and Just Seventeen. Can see this bursting!!’
The rules introduced on Saturday mark another easing of strict social distancing measures
Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined how those living alone could now form ‘support bubble’
On the new measures, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: ‘There are still too many, people particularly those who live by themselves, who are lonely who are struggling with being unable to see friends and family.
‘So, from this weekend, we will allow single, adult households – adults living alone or 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 others homes and do not need to stay two metres apart.
I must 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.
‘If any member of the bubble develops symptoms, all members of the bubble must follow normal advice on household isolation.
‘We are making this change to support those who are particularly lonely as a result of lockdown measures.
‘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 people’s homes because that remains against the law.
‘Unfortunately we cannot advise anyone who is shielding to form a support bubble a this stage given their particular vulnerability to the virus.
‘I know how hard it is for those of you who are shielding and we will say more next week about the arrangements that will be in place for you beyond the end of June.’
There was some pushback on social media following the announcement, with some questioning how the new guidance excluded large numbers of people.
One said: ‘So as a single Mum I can now go and visit 1 family BUT only if they’re also a single person?! So I sTILL can’t visit my parents but everyone can go and s**g others as long as they are single person in a household! Boris.. really?!’