June 10, 2020

expert reaction to announcement at daily government press briefing that from 13th June, some individuals in England will be able to form ‘support bubbles’ with another household

In the Downing Street press conference today, Boris Johnson announced that from the 13th of July single adult households will be bale to form a ‘support bubble’ with another household, allowing them to interact with said household as if they lived in the dame home. 

Prof Linda Bauld, Professor of Public Health, University of Edinburgh, said:

“The ‘support bubble’ announcement today is a very British way of saying that intimacy matters. It acknowledges the toll that lock down has taken on the private lives of tens of thousands of couples who live apart. In recent weeks, the easing of restrictions has been welcome, but social distancing guidelines have meant that people can see their partner outside but not reunite in the way they would wish. This new advice acknowledges that it is difficult and unsustainable for partners to remain physically separate.

“Support bubbles are also consistent with recent research. A recent modelling study found that limiting community transmission of the virus will not be significantly harmed by allowing one household to meet up with another indoors as long as that group was kept small and didn’t alter over time. So this change to the rules is welcome. Not only for intimacy but also to reduce loneliness. At the moment this change applies only to England – but I see no reason why this sensible move couldn’t be adopted in the devolved nations.”

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www.sciencemediacentre.org/tag/covid-19

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