Coronavirus bubbles ‘to be expanded so more people can meet without social distancing’

Coronavirus support ‘bubbles’ could be expanded in England soon, according to new reports.

Boris Johnson is set to relax lockdown rules even further tomorrow, with an announcement on pubs and hairdressers reopening expected, as well as an update on ‘social bubbles’.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the government’s recent support bubble scheme might be updated, with the system as it stands allowing two households in England to meet up and stay over without social distancing.

However, one of the households must have only one adult, and the two households must be ‘exclusive’, meaning people have had to make some difficult decisions.

The system has meant some kids have finally been able to see grandparents, and some couples who live apart have been reunited, although millions have missed out because of the strict rules currently in place.

In regards to the update to the system, a senior government source told the Telegraph: “There will be an expansion of social bubbles, but the details are still being finalised.”

As for how this might work, one of the options could see the system stay the same, but the cap on numbers in each household could be scrapped, meaning you wouldn’t have to live alone to form a bubble.

There’s also the possibility of allowing bubbles to consist of more than two households, but then to place a limit on the number of people in each bubble.

Currently, there is reportedly no final decision on what the new system might look like, but Boris Johnson is expected to announce a full range of new lockdown easing plans to Parliament tomorrow.