On the 1st June, The Independent published an article claiming that whilst the UK lockdown seems to be easing, the new lockdown rules in England have made it illegal for couples who do not live together to have sex indoors, placing much strain on relationships.
So What Are The New Lockdown Rules?
As of the 1st June, The Health Protection Regulations are restricting where people can sleep and gather together. The law defines a gathering: “There is a gathering when two or more people are present together in the same place in order to engage in any form of social interaction with each other, or to undertake any other activity with each other.”
This will mean that gatherings of more than six people in an outdoor space will be prohibited, as well as gatherings of two or more people indoors.
It will also be made illegal to stay overnight outside of your own home without a reasonable excuse. This is said to include moving home, attending funerals, escaping harm or providing care. It does NOT include couples who do not live together, meaning they can see each other in outdoor spaces but not inside.
So Sex Is STILL Off The Table
Pre-existing laws make it illegal to have sex in outdoor places due to public indecency and indecent exposure, therefore many couples who have spent months apart, and are now permitted to reunite, are still unable to have sex.
Although the UK lockdown seems to be easing, the regulations are becoming stricter about what we are able to do with other people in our households and those outside of them. Many couples have experienced strain on their relationships after the lockdown measures previously banned those couples who did not live together from meeting.
This meant that couples were either forced to go without seeing one another beginning on the 24 March, or were encouraged to move in together if they wanted to continue seeing each other. This has likely placed much strain on relationships as individuals have either had to deal with missing their partner and experiencing feelings of loneliness, or had to jump into a situation that their relationship may not have been ready for, resulting in its own set of challenges.
At the start of lockdown when the infection rate and the death rate was still very high, it was obvious why this was the case. If individuals were switching between different households, it would defeat the purpose of reducing social contact and would encourage transmission of the virus.
Is Anyone Exempt?
The new provision from the Health Protection Regulations includes a long list of exemptions, including for athletes that need to train and for children with separated parents. It does not include couples who live in different households.
Although police officers are not permitted to physically remove individuals from indoor private properties, fines can be given, although it is thought that the new lockdown rules are too vague to be enforceable with many questioning the nature of a gathering.
What You Can Do About It
If you are experiencing challenges in your relationships, perhaps you’re worried about your future, maybe you’re experiencing loneliness or heartbreak, then maybe a confidential chat with me could be helpful. Sometimes all it takes is for somebody to listen.
