Coronavirus: Disease Control

(asked on 28th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason those under the age of 5 do not count in the meet up rules when compared with higher age limits in other home nations.


Answered by
Nadine Dorries Portrait
Nadine Dorries
This question was answered on 3rd February 2021

We have put in place exemptions to social contact restrictions to facilitate support for those who need it most and to mitigate the greatest risks of isolation. A parent or guardian of a child under five years old is less likely to be able to leave their child in alternative care arrangements whilst they take up outdoor exercise with another person. Exempting children under five years old from the gathering limit thereby ensures that parents and guardians of very young children are not disproportionately impacted by the restrictions. Further extending any exemptions at this stage would pose a risk to transmission rates. We will continue to keep the restrictions under review.

We continue to work with the devolved administrations to seek a coordinated approach.

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