Since the coronavirus outbreak, the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive have introduced a number of restrictions on people’s day-to-day lives to stop the spread of coronavirus. Whilst the stay-at-home order has been lifted since April 12 and you can leave your homes for non-essential purposes, a number of restrictions remain in place.

You can read more on the Government's website.

The current restrictions

Work

The Government advises you should work from home if you are able to do so. 

Household bubbles

• You can form one bubble with one other household.
• The two households in the bubble can be of any size, however indoor meetings between households in the bubble are limited to a maximum of 10 people, including children, at any one time.
• To contain the risk of spreading the virus, a household cannot be part of more than one bubble. Therefore, members of the two households within a bubble will not be permitted to have close contact with visitors from a third household. They should maintain social distancing from people outside of their bubble.
• If a household wishes to change the household that they bubble with, the household must wait 10 days from the last visit of the original linked household before starting a new bubble with another household.

Meeting other households

Up to two households can mix in private homes. Typically, no more than six people should mix inside. However, if a household has six or more members, they can mix inside with another household as long as there are no more than 10 people.

Outdoor activities

• Since 26 July, up to 15 people from any number of households can meet in a private garden. Children aged 12 and under do not count towards the total.

  Up to 30 people can meet outdoors in places that are not people's homes.

Businesses and services

Retail and close contact services have resumed. Indoor and outdoor attractions, including cinemas, have reopened. 

Care homes

• The Government recommends that care home visits are restricted, with the exception of palliative care facilities and those who are receiving end of life care. If you would like to visit someone in a care home, please check arrangements with the care home and visit the Government guidance for visiting in care settings.

Childcare

Childcare can continue to be provided by a person registered in accordance with the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 or any childcare provided free of charge. 

Informal childcare arrangements are also permitted to continue.

Schools

All pupils returned to face-to-face teaching on 12 April.

Read more in the Department of Education's frequently asked questions, as well as on our Education guidance page.

Medically-vulnerable and older people

Medically-vulnerable and older people are asked to be particularly careful in following the advice on limiting household contacts, social distancing, hand washing and wearing a face-covering.

From 26 December, ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ (CEV) people who are working and are unable to do so from home have been advised not to attend the workplace.

A list of people considered to be CEV can be found here.

Face coverings

You have to wear a face covering in certain places, like supermarkets as well as on public transport. You don’t have to wear a face covering if:

• you have a reasonable excuse not to, such as being autistic
• you are under the age of 13
• you are a member of staff in a supermarket

What to do if someone asks you why you’re not wearing a face covering:

You do not need to prove that you are autistic to be exempt. But, we recommend you download and print our information sheet that you can share if you are asked why you are not wearing a face covering. You can also download our I am autistic card.

• Download our information sheet
• Download our I am autistic Card
• Download our My child is Autistic Card
• Download our This Person is Autistic Card

Changes to shielding in Northern Ireland

Shielding has been paused. If you have been shielding you should now follow the same rules as everyone else, but try and be extra careful about social distancing. These include keeping two metres away from people outside your household, limiting the number of people you meet, shops you visit and the non-essential journeys you make. If you are clinically extremely vulnerable and working, but cannot do so from home, you are advised not to attend the workplace. 

What we’re doing

We are telling the Government about your experiences of the coronavirus outbreak so it knows what life is like for autistic people and their families. If you want to share your experiences with us, or any worries or concerns you have, please send an email to stories@nas.org.uk.