Are lockdown lovers leading the government rebellion? Almost 25% of Brits have touched a stranger in the house

Nearly a quarter of UK adults ignored lockdown rules for having “ physical contact ” in the home with someone outside their home or support bubble last week, new data revealed today.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 22% of over 16s admitted touching someone else while socializing indoors in the previous 24 hours, raising fears that “block lovers” are ignoring frustrating rules.

According to a survey conducted in the first week of November, the most guilty age groups were those between the ages of 16 and 29 (23 percent) and those between the ages of 50 and 60 (25 percent).

At that time, all four nations of the UK had rules prohibiting physical contact between people you didn’t live with or who were in your “social bubble”.

The survey was conducted between November 5, when the British blockade began, and November 8.

But despite the introduction of stricter rules to fight a second wave of coronavirus, a similar proposal admitting to breaking the rules inside as seen the previous week (24%)

This was in settings such as private homes, cafes, pubs or restaurants, excluding those in their family or support bubble.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 22% of over 16s admitted touching someone else while socializing indoors in the previous 24 hours, raising fears that “ lockdown lovers ” are ignoring rules frustrating

The ONS questioned adults about their behavior between 5 and 8 November as part of its opinion and lifestyle survey, receiving 4,378 responses.

Public health messages during the coronavirus pandemic have consistently advised people to try to keep their distance from those not in their family or bubble.

On November 5, a four-week national blockade was imposed for England. During the investigation period, Wales was also subjected to a national “fire barrier” and Scotland had five levels of “local protection levels”.

People have been asked about their behavior in the past 24 hours, so the data also covers the day before England’s blockade was imposed.

Of 4,190 respondents in England, 19% said they had direct contact with one and five people who were not in their family or who were on the bubble while socializing at home.

Examples of direct physical contact may include shaking or holding hands, hugging, and making contact when passing objects, the ONS said.

A quarter (25%) of adults between the ages of 50 and 69 said they had had physical contact while socializing at home with someone who was not part of their family or bubble.

People aged 70 and over were less likely to report it (17%), while 23% of young people between 16 and 29 said they did.

More than a third (36%) of respondents said they had no direct contact with anyone outside their family or had no contact with anyone while socializing indoors.