New government rules say that from Monday you must not meet with people from other households socially, in groups of more than six. This will apply indoors and outdoors, including in private homes and gardens. Fines for breaching the rules will be £100, doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £3,200.

This will not affect workplaces or meetings, childcare, or education. Organised team sports will still be able to proceed, as will weddings and funerals up to 30. This will also not impact existing arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents. There will be a limited number of exemptions, which can be found on the gov.uk website.

COVID-19 Secure venues, such as places of worship, restaurants and hospitality venues, can still host larger numbers in total, but groups of up to 6 must not mix or form larger groups. This rule will not apply to individual households or support bubbles of more than 6 who will still be able to gather together.

Rachel Wigglesworth, Cornwall Council’s Director of Public Health, said “It’s important to say that the vast majority of people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have been keeping up with social distancing rules, and this is evident in the low number of cases that we have here currently. Coronavirus hasn’t gone away, and these changes to the rules are proof of that. Our Local Outbreak Management Plan is working well, and that is thanks to the continuing hard work with our partners and the processes we all have in place”.

“Please remember when meeting in groups of six to still maintain social distancing, don’t hug anyone outside your immediate household or support bubble, wash your hands often, limit how many people you see over a short period of time and if meeting indoors try to keep them ventilated by opening doors and windows.

Please only get a test if you have symptoms, help us keep tests for people who really need them. You do not need to get a test if you have been a close contact of someone with the virus, unless you start to develop symptoms. Symptoms include:

• high temperature
• new, continuous cough
• loss or change to sense of smell or taste

If you feel unwell you can call 111 or use the online symptom checker

More information is available on www.cornwall.gov.uk