Update (Fri pm), the CofE is still none the wiser:
Last updated Friday 11 September at 9.30
The Government has announced that new regulations relating to the ‘rule of six’ are being prepared.
Those regulation will not come into effect until Monday September 14 2020.
Until then all of the advice below continues to apply as before.
The Church of England is engaging with the Government and will provide new advice to churches but we do not expect to be in a position to provide that until the week beginning September 14.
Here are excerpts from newly published government guidance on the 'rule of 6' and how it applies to churches and community settings. The web address below each section is the document it was taken from, so you can tack and trace sources.
From 14 September, whether indoors or outdoors people from different households must not meet in groups of more than 6. This limit does not apply to meetings of a single household group or support bubble which is more than 6 people. Community facilities following COVID-19 secure guidelines can host more than 6 people in total, but no one should visit or socialise in a group of greater than 6. Further information on social contact rules, social distancing and the exemptions that exist can be found on the guidance on meeting with others safely. These rules will not apply to workplaces or education settings, alongside other exemptions. See more details on what has changed.
If partaking in permitted activities users of COVID-19 secure
community facilities should limit their social interactions with anyone they do
not live with. Whilst activities may have 30 or more people participating
(where it is safe to do so and capacity permits) it is important for all
parties to maintain socially distant, 2 metres or 1 metre with actions taken to
reduce the risk of transmission (where 2 metres is not viable) between
households. For example, use of face coverings and encouraging good hand
hygiene on entering premises and throughout visit.
Limits on the number of people you can see socially are changing. From
Monday 14 September, when meeting friends and family you do not live with you
must not meet in a group of more than 6 indoors or outdoors.
From 14 September - when the new rules apply - it will be against the
law to meet people you do not live with in a group larger than 6 (unless you
are meeting as a household or support bubble). The police will have the powers
to enforce these legal limits, including to issue fines (fixed penalty notice)
of £100, doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £3,200.
There will be exceptions where groups can be larger than 6 people,
including:
·
where everyone lives together or is
in the same support bubble, or to continue existing arrangements where children
do not live in the same household as both their parents
·
for work, and voluntary or charitable
services
·
for education, training, or
registered childcare (including wraparound care)
·
fulfilling legal obligations such as
attending court or jury service
·
providing emergency assistance, or
providing support to a vulnerable person
·
for you or someone else to avoid
illness, injury or harm
·
participate in children’s playgroups
·
wedding and civil partnership
ceremonies and receptions, or for other religious life-cycle ceremonies - where
up to 30 people will be able to attend
·
funerals - where up to 30 people will
be able to attend
·
organised indoor and outdoor sports,
physical activity and exercise classes (see the list of recreational
team sports, outdoor
sport and exercise allowed under the gyms
and leisure centre guidance
·
youth groups or activities
·
elite sporting competition or
training
·
protests and political activities
organised in compliance with COVID-19 secure guidance and subject to strict
risk assessments
Venues following COVID-19
secure guidelines will be able to continue to
host more people in total - such as religious services in places of worship -
but no one should visit in a group of greater than 6. When you visit one of
these places, such as a pub, shop, leisure venue, restaurant or place of
worship you should:
·
follow the limits on the number of
other people you should meet with as a group - no more than six people unless
you all live together (or are in the same support bubble)
·
avoid social interaction with anyone
outside the group you are with, even if you see other people you know
·
provide your contact details to the
organiser so that you can be contacted if needed by the NHS
Test and Trace programme
2.1 Can I visit people indoors?
Yes.
From 14 September there will be a legal limit on the number of people
you don’t live with you are able to meet. When meeting with people you don’t
live with you can socialise in groups of up to 6.
You should continue to maintain social distancing with anyone you do not
live with.
2.4 Are children counted in the group of 6?
Yes.
2.8 Is there a limit on the number of people attending funerals?
The new legal gatherings limit of 6 people which will apply and come
into force from 14 September does not apply to funerals.
Relevant premises will limit capacity based on how many people it can
safely accommodate with social distancing in place, and we advise that funerals
are limited to a maximum of 30 people.
The
guidance on funerals can be found here.
2.9 Can weddings go ahead?
Yes, wedding ceremonies, civil partnerships and receptions (sit down
meals in COVID-19 Secure venues) are allowed to take place. The new legal
gatherings limit of 6 people which will apply and come into force from 14
September does not apply to weddings, civil partnerships and receptions.
2.11 Does this mean that
no more than six people can be in a pub or restaurant at once?
Venues following COVID-19 Secure guidelines can host more than 6
people in total, but no one should visit in a group of greater than 6. When you
visit one of these places, such as a pub, shop, leisure venue, restaurant or
place of worship you should:
·
follow the limits on the
number of other people you should meet with as a group (it will be illegal to
be in group of more than six from outside of your household)
·
avoid social interaction
with anyone outside the group you are with, even if you see other people you
know
·
provide your contact
details to the organiser so that you can be contacted if needed by the NHS Test
and Trace programme
2.15 Can I gather in a
group of more than 6 for childcare?
There is an exemption to the legal gatherings limit which comes
into force on 14 September for the purposes of formal childcare provided by a
registered provider. Family and friends can also provide informal childcare as
long as groups from different households don’t exceed 6 people. Youth groups,
wraparound childcare, including settings not formally registered (such as those
providing after school clubs, breakfast clubs, sports clubs), and other
children’s groups will also be allowed to continue.
3.10 Can I pray in a
place of worship?
Yes,
places of worship will stay open for services and communal prayer in line
with guidance
for reopening Places of Worship.
Places of worship can stay open for services for more than 6
people. However individual groups of more than one household or support bubble
must not exceed 6 people.
You should limit your social interaction in these venues to the
group you are attending with.
Strict adherence to social distancing is strongly advised and a
distance of 2 metres (or 1 metre with additional COVID-19 Secure measures in
place) should be kept from people you do not live with wherever possible.
3.11 Can I send my
teenagers to their youth club?
Yes, you can. However, you should advise your children to
maintain social distancing, wash their hands regularly and limit social
interaction outside of these formal activities with anyone you do not live
with.
The
club should also follow COVID-19
Secure guidance.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do
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