By Victoria Mckeown-
Boris Johnson is happy change the number of wedding guest allowance if he is forced to push back the ending of lock down on June 21 in England.
The final stages of unlocking restrictions in England looks less likely for June 21, due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus variant first identified in India.
Amid the rise in cases and the surge of the Delta variant, ministers could decide to keep some less restrictive measures in place.
Mr Johnson will make his decision on the easing of Covid restrictions next week on June 14, but is reportedly determined to lift the 30-person rule at weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and receptions.
It comes as Boris Johnson married Carrie Symonds in a low-key ceremony on 29 May at Westminster Cathedral.
The Times has reported guests will sit at socially distanced tables and would still be advised to be “cautious” about contact with other households.
The guidance does advise against dancing, with the exception of the first dance, and guests and staff must wear masks, unless they are dining or drinking.
The decision will be subject to the outcome of the Social Distancing Review and also the Events Research Programme – which include a series of large event pilots using Covid mitigations, including enhanced testing.
Under the current Covid restrictions just 30 people can attend a wedding that is held in a ‘Covid secure’ venue.
A government source told The Times: “It’s been tough on the sector.
“If you’ve got stadiums full of people, why can’t weddings go ahead with more than 30 people?”
The 2021 wedding season is set to be the busiest yet with not only already planned 20121 weddings but also with those that had to cancel last year due to the pandemic. If restrictions are lifted on 21st June then there will be a huge sigh of relief from the couples involved.
England is due to exit Step 4 of the roadmap out of lockdown on June 21 but with cases at their highest since March the easing of social distancing restrictions appears far from certain. A relaxation of the rules would be most appreciated to those wanting to tie the knot.
People have been told to “minimise travel” in and out of Greater Manchester and Lancashire as part of new government guidance to tackle the number of Delta variant cases.
The new measures also say that people should meet outside where possible, get tested twice a week and continue to work from home.