Lockdown Lifeline For The Lonely

Joy for grandparents as hugging is allowed. Single people can stay the night with loved ones

- Macer Hall

Boris Johnson has moved to ease lockdown loneliness by allowing single people to stay with loved ones.

From Saturday, adults who live alone and single parents can link up with one other household in a “support bubble”.

This means they will be able to spend precious time together indoors and also stay overnight without having to observe social distancing rules.

Widowed or divorced grandparents will be able to hug and play with their grandchildren.

And couples who live apart can spend the night under the same roof. One-parent families will also be able to get help babysitting and other childcare needs from others in their bubble.

The Prime Minister said: “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.”

He also hinted that the two-metre social distancing rule could soon be relaxed by insisting the measure is kept under “constant review”.

Mr. Johnson announced the latest easing of lockdown in England after revealing the average daily death toll from coronavirus has fallen to 200 over the last week, down from 300 two weeks ago. Yesterday’s figure was 245.

Speaking at his Downing Street media briefing on the virus, the PM acknowledged that loneliness had blighted many lives under the rules imposed to curb the epidemic.

He said: “I know how difficult the past months have been for people cut off from their friends and family.

“There are still too many people, particularly those who live by themselves, who are lonely and struggling with being unable to see friends and family.