Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed lockdown measures will be imposed on parts of the North East from Friday, September 18. Mr Hancock said households in Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham should not socialise with other people outside of their household or support bubble.
What is a support bubble?
A support bubble, also known as a social bubble, is a support network between a household with only on adult in the home and another household of any size.
The bubble was introduced to combat loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once you’re in a support bubble, you can be with people in the other household as you would as if it was your own.
READ MORE: New lockdown rules North East: What are the new rules being introduced
Who can form a support bubble?
If you’re in a single-adult household you can form a support bubble with another household of any size that is not part of a support bubble with anyone else. However, you must:
live by yourself – even if carers visit you to provide support
are a single parent living with children who were under 18 on June 12, 2020
If you live with other adults, including if your carer or carers live with you can form a support bubble with one single-adult household who are not part of a support bubble with anyone else.
You can also form a bubble with another household if you share custody of your child with someone you don’t live with.
However, the Government says those forming social bubbles together should try to live as close to each other as possible to avoid having to travel on public transport.
This will also “help to prevent the virus spreading from an area where there might be a higher rate of infection”, the Government advises.
If NHS Test and Trace contacts you or someone in your support bubble, you should follow their guidance.
