Health Secretary unable to throw light on Government's rules over couples living apart having sex
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, was unable to explain on Thursday whether couples living apart could have sex, as he was asked to define the Government’s rule that they must be in an “established relationship”.
The confusion arose after, in a bid to curtail the spread of coronavirus, the Government urged people not to engage in casual sex and to only have sexual relations in an “established relationship”.
However, when asked live on air to define what constitutes an “established relationship” Mr Hancock, 41, was unable to give an answer.
Between giggles Mr Hancock said: “In these rules that we have to bring in, there have to be boundaries – to coin a phrase.
"If you're saying that two households shouldn't mix, which we are in some parts of the country – in the North East, the North West, in Scotland, in parts of Wales – then you have to then define what is the boundary of that."
Earlier this week updated guidance stipulated: “People in an established relationship do not need to socially distance” and that those in the early stages of a relationship “should take particular care to follow the guidance on social distancing”.
When pressed on Sky News to define what is considered an “established relationship”, Mr Hancock was unable to answer, instead saying: “I think we should stick to the letter of it, which is it’s OK in an established relationship.”
Mr Hancock, who is married with children, added: “I know that I’m in an established relationship. It just means that people need to be careful, people need to be sensible and if you’re in a relationship that is well established. That’s what it means.”
He stressed the need for the public to realise: “That by coming into close contact with people in other households then that is how the virus spreads”.
Mr Hancock also said that he would not rule out the prospect of asking university students to stay on at their campuses at Christmas. Downing Street also did not rule out such a move in the event of further outbreaks.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "What is important in the event there is a specific outbreak on a campus is that steps are taken to ensure that the virus is not spread more widely."
