What are support bubbles and do they apply in Tier 1 and 2 zones?

The Government has rolled out a new three-tier system of Covid-19 restrictions in England aimed at containing a second wave of the deadly virus.

Under the measures, Brits in different parts of the country have had their social interactions curtailed to varying degrees.

But across all tiers, people are still able to maintain support bubbles, offering adults living alone or single parents the chance to continue mixing with one other household and interact as though they were one.

So, here's what you need to know:

Support bubbles allow adults living alone or single parents living with children under the age of 18 to mix with one other household and interact as though they were one.

This means those in a support bubble are permitted to spend time together indoors, and are not required to follow the two-metre rule. Overnight stays are allowed.

The mechanism means elderly people living alone can form a bubble with the household of an adult son or daughter, or single parents can pair up with their own parents, allowing them to share childcare duties and reuniting grandparents and grandchildren.

Couples who do not live together are also able to visit and to stay with each other.

If one half of a couple shares a flat or house with one or more other people, they can form a support bubble with their partner, so long as they live alone. But if their partner also shares a home the couple cannot form a support bubble.

The Government advises people should try and form support bubbles within the same area. It also says people may only now either form a first support bubble or continue in an existing one and cannot swap an existing bubble for another.

Boris Johnson introduced support bubbles in June as part of moves at the time to ease England’s coronavirus restrictions.

Speaking at the time, the Prime Minister said: “We are making this change to support those who are particularly lonely as a result of lockdown measures.”

All members of both households in the bubble must self-isolate for 14 days.

Yes. It is fine for people to form or continue in an existing support bubble in Tier 1 and 2 zones.