Explained: Uk government's sex ban to control COVID-19

As part of its rigorous new Covid-19 lockdown approach to manage increasing virus rates, the UK government has announced that couples living apart in high-risk regions will no longer be authorised to meet indoors. This new rule is generally being defined as a “sex ban”.

Couples and single people will be permitted to meet outdoors in certain hotspots; however, they are asked to comply with social distancing measures and are rigorously prohibited from touching one another, a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson reported to The Guardian on Friday.

As per to the new rules and guidelines, the only way people can meet during the lockdown is if they already live together or are a member of the same ‘support bubble’.

With more than half of England’s population currently residing in tremendous and very high-risk areas, many inhabitants worry that sex may be off bounds over the next few months.

As per the government’s new system, several areas have been divided into three sections —Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 — based on the quantity of reported Covid-19 cases. Of these, Tier 2 and Tier 3 include high and very high-risk areas, while Tier 1 comprises all medium-risk locations.

Under the new rules, socialising in high and very high-risk zones has been defined to a large extent. Here, people are prevented from associating with anybody outside their household or ‘support bubble’ in any indoor setting.

The ‘rule of six’ asks for socialising outdoors, which suggests that groups of more than six people are stringently prohibited.

While couples are not explicitly specified in the government-issued rules, the Prime Minister’s office has since validated that they are not excluded from the limitations in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

The new guidelines also resemble to rule out random sex altogether, and many inhabitants have since aimed out.

Prime Minister Johnson’s official spokesperson reported The Guardian, “The rules on the house mixing in tier 2, I believe, set out that you should mix with your own household only if you have created a support bubble, and that certainly does pertain in cases of some couples.”

He explained that while couples can meet outdoors, they must practice social distance, wear face protection and avoid touching. He also urged people residing in Tier 2 areas not to go to Tier 1 zones just so that they can socialise indoors, the Evening Standard published.