Coronavirus lockdown eases further with ‘support bubbles’ aimed at relieving social isolation

People in England are now able to set up “support bubbles”, a move the prime minister says is aimed at helping those who are lonely as lockdown restrictions continue to be eased.

The new rule means that adults living alone can form a network with one other household, so a grandparent could visit the house of their child and grandchildren. The change will allow some people to stay overnight at another house, without having to socially distance.

Northern Ireland is adopting a similar relaxation of the regulations for people living alone.

However, the changes do not apply to those who are vulnerable and shielding.

Amy Downes is mum to Harry and James, who are both under five. She has been making do with support from friends and family online, but is desperately missing human interaction.

Her best friend Alex, who lives alone, is going to join her family in a bubble.

She told Sky News: “Now that she can actually come into the house and spend a bit of time with us, I am really looking forward to the weather not putting that off. It is going to be really nice. But for me it is going to be getting Harry back with his little buddy and those two having a bit of fun.

“From my point of view, it will be really nice to have an extra pair of hands when my partner is in work, when he does have to go in as a teacher. It is really hard to look after two children. I find it difficult because this wasn’t what I expected to do. I thought Harry was going to be in nursery.”

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But not everyone is so enthusiastic about the idea.

Thea Jaffe, a single mother who has been working throughout lockdown, said she found it difficult to think about who to invite.

She said: “When it was first announced I felt excited because we can finally have some human contact, but when I thought about it more, I started to get confused. Should I ask my son’s father, but then we only see him once a month, so maybe a friend… when you finally start to ask people to bubble with you, it is almost like you are asking them to marry you.”

For months, high streets have been closed, roads have been deserted and people have only been allowed one bit of exercise a day. But lockdown measures are now being eased, even though in some areas the R number, which measures the spread of the virus, is now above one.

There is no doubt that recent months have been particularly difficult for single parents. Among the charities trying to help is Gingerbread.

Its chief executive Victoria Benson told Sky News: “This is the first time the government has considered single parents, it seems. Many are alone and solely responsible. It is relentless. They are full of anxiety.

“On one level we welcome this to alleviate loneliness and you can’t underestimate how difficult it is. However, a lot of people calling our helpline, or on the groups, they seek clarification. But also, many don’t have anybody they could include. Their life continues unchanged.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the measures are a “targeted intervention” to help those who are most lonely.

“There are still too many people, particularly those who live by themselves, who are lonely and struggling,” he said, stressing the measures were not designed for people who do not meet the criteria.

As restrictions are eased and some grandparents are finally able to hug their grandchildren and those living alone are able to visit friends, it seems human interaction has never been so valued.

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus lockdown eases further with ‘support bubbles’ aimed at relieving social isolation