Coronavirus

Coronavirus rules in England

Rules on seeing other people

In England, there are different rules on meeting people who you don’t live with, depending on where you are in the country. The rules on what you can do depend on the local alert level for your area.

Find out what local alert level your area is in.

Wherever you live in England, you can still do the following things:

• see someone who is dying in their home
• provide care to someone who is vulnerable
• go to a funeral or wake
• travel to a different area to provide care for someone.

Find out what you can and cannot do in each alert level.

Support if you are or have been shielding

If you are shielding or have been shielding, you may be taking extra precautions to protect yourself from coronavirus. The government advises that you follow social distancing rules if you are vulnerable or extremely vulnerable.

Check who is vulnerable or extremely vulnerable.

Shielding has been paused in England since 1 August. The National Shielding Service has stopped providing free food parcels, medicine deliveries and care.

But NHS Volunteer Responders will carry on delivering any food you buy, prescriptions and essential items if you need them. You’ll still be able to book priority slots at supermarkets too.

If you are considered extremely vulnerable and you live in an area which has a very high local alert level, the government may write to you and advise you to shield again. You will not have to shield unless you get this letter from the government. But you may wish to take extra precautions to protect yourself.

Check the local alert level for your area.

Get support if you are shielding by:

• calling 0808 196 3646 between 8am and 8pm
• registering on the NHS Responder website.  

Travelling

Where possible, you should avoid travelling to parts of England which are in a higher local alert level than your area. However, if you live in a very high local alert level area, you are allowed to travel out of this area to provide care.

Check the local alert level for your area.

If you live in England and you go abroad, you may have to self-isolate for 14 days when you come home.

See the list of countries you can visit without self-isolating on your return.

See the people who are exempt from self-isolating after travel.
If you need to self-isolate when you return or enter England, there are some circumstances where you can leave your home, even if you’ve been abroad:

• You can leave the place where you’re self-isolating to visit a family member or someone you live with if they are dying or critically ill and being cared for somewhere else.
• You can leave your home to go to the funeral of a family member or someone you live with.

Get the latest travel advice from GOV.UK

Coronavirus rules in Northern Ireland

General rules on seeing other people

The rules in Northern Ireland say that you cannot meet someone from a different household in your own home, unless:

• they’re in the same support bubble as you
• either of you have caring responsibilities
• you need essential maintenance, for example repairs in your home
• you need visits for legal or medical purposes.

Six people can gather in a private garden. These six people must be from a maximum of two households. Children aged 12 and under from those two households are not included in this six. You can visit someone in their home to provide care.

Read more about the rules in Northern Ireland.

Local lockdown in Northern Ireland

Some areas of Northern Ireland are now in local lockdown. This is to reduce the spread of coronavirus in these areas. Local lockdown means that the rules on seeing other people are even stricter in these areas.

If your area is in local lockdown, you can still visit someone to provide care for them.

Check if your area is in local lockdown.

Support if you are or have been shielding

If you are shielding or have been shielding, you may be taking extra precautions to protect yourself from coronavirus. The government advises that you follow social distancing rules if you are vulnerable or extremely vulnerable.

Check who is vulnerable or extremely vulnerable.

In Northern Ireland, shielding has been paused from 31 July. If you need help with getting food or prescriptions, you can contact the community helpline by:

• calling 0808 802 0020
• texting ACTION to 81025
• emailing covid19@adviceni.net

Travelling

If you live in Northern Ireland and you go abroad, you may have to self-isolate for 14 days when you come home.

See the list of countries you can visit without self-isolating on your return.

If you’re travelling to Northern Ireland for less than 14 days, you will be expected to self-isolate for the length of your stay.
If you are supposed to be self-isolating, the government has not said whether you can leave your home to provide care, visit someone who’s dying or attend a funeral or wake.

Coronavirus rules in Scotland

General rules on seeing other people

In Scotland, you cannot visit other households in their home unless you:

• live alone or live alone with children, and you have formed an extended household with another house
• are in a relationship with someone you don’t live with
• need childcare or are providing it
• are providing care for an adult.

You can meet with a maximum of six people from two households in a private garden or public place – this covers places which are indoors or outdoors. Some people are exempt from this rule, including:

• children 12 and under
• young people aged 12-18 who are exempt from the two-household limit but can only meet in groups of six.

You should not share a car with anyone from outside your household.

See the rules about extended households in Scotland.

Local lockdown in Scotland

Many areas of Scotland are now in local lockdown. This is to reduce the spread of coronavirus in these areas. Local lockdown means that the rules on seeing other people are even stricter in these areas.
If your area is in local lockdown, you can still visit someone to provide care for them. You can also visit someone who is dying in their home, but you should follow social distancing measures.

Check if your area is in local lockdown.

If you are or have been shielding

If you are shielding or have been shielding, you may be taking extra precautions to protect yourself from coronavirus. The government advises that you follow social distancing rules if you are vulnerable or extremely vulnerable.

Check who is vulnerable or extremely vulnerable.

In Scotland, shielding has been paused from 1 August. Food packages have been stopped. You can still have priority access to book deliveries from supermarkets. If you cannot afford food, or have any other concerns, call the free national Covid-19 helpline on 0800 111 4000.

Travelling

If you live in Scotland and you go abroad, you may have to self-isolate for 14 days when you come home.

See the list of countries you can visit without self-isolating on your return.

You can leave your home during that time for compassionate reasons, for example, to attend a funeral of someone you live with or a close relative.

Read more about quarantine rules in Scotland.

Coronavirus rules in Wales

General rules on seeing other people

The rules in Wales say you can only meet indoors with people you live with or are in an extended household with. Up to four households can form an extended household. You can also visit someone inside their home if you are providing care for them.

Only 6 people can meet indoors at any one time, even if you’re in the same extended household. This rule applies in pubs and restaurants as well as in people’s homes. Children under 11 are not counted in the six.

Gatherings of up to 30 people are allowed outside. People meeting outside can meet in someone’s garden, and in outdoor public places like parks. Everyone must follow social distancing rules. People from different households must stay at least two metres apart unless they are in an extended household.

Read more about extended households in Wales.

Local lockdown in Wales

Many areas of Wales are now in local lockdown. This is to reduce the spread of coronavirus in these areas. Local lockdown means that the rules on seeing other people are even stricter in these areas.
If your area is in local lockdown, you can still visit someone to provide care for them. You can also visit someone who is dying in their home, but you should follow social distancing measures.

Check if your area is in local lockdown.

Support if you are or have been shielding

If you are or have been shielding, you may be taking extra precautions to protect yourself from coronavirus. The government advises that you follow social distancing rules if you are vulnerable or extremely vulnerable.

Check who is vulnerable or extremely vulnerable.

In Wales, shielding has been paused from 16 August. The weekly food box deliveries coordinated by local councils have ended, but priority slots for online supermarket shopping remain in place. Contact the CALL Helpline for support on 0800 132 737 or visit callhelpline.org.uk.

Find support if you’re affected by coronavirus in Wales.

Travelling

If you live in Wales and you go abroad, you may have to self-isolate for 14 days when you come home.

See the list of countries you can visit without self-isolating on your return.

The guidance says that you can leave your home for compassionate reasons if you’re self-isolating. For example, to attend the funeral of a family member or a close friend.

Can I travel from abroad to see someone who is dying in the UK?

If you’re travelling to the UK to visit someone who is dying, you might be worried about having to self-isolate for 14 days before you can see them. There are some circumstances where you can leave your home, even if you’ve been abroad and are self-isolating.
You might find it helpful to speak to the person and their doctor, nurse and carers to make a plan for how you can safely see the person.
If you are travelling to another country to see someone who is dying, check the rules in that country.

Find out what to do if you can’t visit someone who is dying.

If you’re worried about being stopped by the police while caring

Across the UK, the rules say you are allowed to go to someone else’s house to care for them.

This applies even if your area is in local lockdown or on a high or very high local alert level.

If you are travelling to provide care, you may be worried about being stopped by the police.

Try not to worry if this does happen. You are not breaking any rules. Tell them that you are travelling to provide care and this is within the rules. Be confident that you are allowed to travel as a carer.

How to show you are a carer

You might feel more comfortable if you have something to show the police which proves you’re a carer. Some councils in England and trusts in Northern Ireland have carer’s ID schemes.
If your area doesn’t have a carer’s ID scheme, there are other things you can do:

• Carry documents with you, such as a Carer’s Allowance letter, NHS shielding letter, or Carer Passport.
• Tell the person’s GP and healthcare team that you’re providing care for them.
• Tell your GP that you’re providing care for someone.

Find out what other support you can get as a carer.

If you do get a fine

It is very unlikely you will be fined by the police. But if you are and you want to appeal, check the paperwork you’re given for details of the fine. It should tell you how to appeal.

If you are unsure what to do, contact Citizen’s Advice.

If you’re not sure whether the rules apply to your situation

The rules and advice don’t cover every situation and the governments across the UK have asked people to use their judgement to make decisions if this is the case. When you’re deciding, it’s important to think about the risks of getting or spreading coronavirus. 

 Ask family and friends what they think if you’re unsure, or speak with your GP or healthcare professional.

Easy read information

General

NHS Library: video and easy read information about coronavirus  

Books beyond words: easy reads on coping with coronavirus  

GOV.UK: easy read information on what happens to direct payments during coronavirus  

Palliative Care for People with Learning Disabilities Network: List of easy reads about coronavirus 

Wales

Welsh government: Guidance on shielding during coronavirus (easy read)

Learning Disability Wales: List of different easy read resources

Scotland

NHS Inform: Coronavirus advice and isolation guidance (easy reads)