New 'rule of six' divides Mansfield residents

The ‘rule of six’ now means anyone meeting in groups of more than six could be on the receiving end of £100 fines, increasing up to £3,200 for repeat offenders, unless they are one of 13 exceptions listed by the government.

However schools where children mingle with other pupils remain open, and large numbers of people can gather on buses, aeroplanes and trains without issue.

Jono Edwards is co-owner of many bars and restaurants in Nottinghamshire, and believes the new rules making track and trace a lawful requirement are a great help for the hospitality industry.

He said: “From our perspective it’s a far clearer message to customers when reserving tables as the maximum is now six.

"All of our venues already adopted this number from being allowed to open and we have always tracked and traced - so for us, there’s no change whatsoever.

"I’m really happy to see the lawfulness of track & trace being introduced, as now all venues across the UK have to legally adhere to it - which can only help us combat this virus and help our industry return to some kind of normality.”

Here is what some of our readers had to say on the new rules, and their thoughts on how the country should deal with the rise in coronavirus cases.

Ann Palmer appealed for residents to take the virus seriously: “A lot of people have become complacent about coronavirus - they don’t know anybody who’s caught or been through it, so it makes them believe it’s not out there.

“If you have been through hell like we have - my brother caught it, he spent 88 days in intensive care, then 35 days trying to get some sort of life back and yes, it’s left him disabled for life, so it is out there.

“Wear your mask, keep your distance, wash your hands regularly and respect others, then we will all have a brighter future.”

Some readers have suggested that a second lockdown is needed, with a return to the strict rules in place at the beginning of the pandemic.

Scott Simpson explains: “There are a few simple rules that will have an impact of the spread but not ruin lives and economies.

“You must work from home where possible.

“Limit pubs and bars to 50% capacity and no more than six at a table from two households, with under-12’s not included.

“Allow gatherings of six at home from two households, again with under-12’s not included.

“Bring back in the much better guidelines and rules to supermarkets limiting capacity.

“Effectively what we were doing two months ago, should be in place from now until February – people have got complacent, hence the sharp rise in cases.”

Many are questioning the efficacy of reducing group sizes in social settings whilst children are allowed to mingle with around 30 children at primary school, and as many as 200 children in secondary school where classes are mixed for different subjects.

Some are calling for schools to be closed, especially after some in the area began reporting confirmed coronavirus cases within days of the new school term, and some are suggesting a part-time approach to schooling to allow for classes to reduce in size.

Joanne Woodland explains her view: “I would put schools on part time, with so many children in a morning, so many in the afternoon.

"That would make class sizes smaller and parents can go to work part time.

"They should also make it law to wear masks in shops.”

Samantha Tyler also aired her views: “Complete waste of time when my daughter is going into school every day and mixing with 30 different kids who have all mixed with their own families and their group of 6 other people.

"I guess technically, as a family, we are coming into contact with potentially 180 odd people every day my daughter walks back in from school.”

Bethany Vincent expressed her concern about the rules when birthing partners are still not able to be present during labour: “I believe they put the blame on younger generation socialising, however they can meet as six different households still in a pub?

"I think maybe the limit on numbers would have been better as maybe eight from two or three households only, which would minimise the younger ones doing the socialising.

“Let the dads or birthing partners in when having a baby – let’s face it they can sit and wait in a pub with five other mates?

“Thank God mine was born just before we locked down.”

Some readers found the new rules confusing, after the government encouraged people to ‘eat out to help out’ throughout August, and feel that the new rules are somewhat of a u-turn by those in charge.

Julie Martin said: “They should not have done the eat out to help out scheme, whilst it was a good idea in principle it was a bad idea in practice, it just helped fill the pubs up more.

"I agree that it’s all about the money.”

The rules for bars and restaurants has always been clear – a maximum of six people to a table from just two households indoors, or mixed households outdoors, has been in place since the pubs reopened on July 4.

These new rules now mean the two household rule has been dropped, but the key change for the industry is that all venues have a responsibility to take customers’ details and keep them for 21 days now by law.

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