Reuniting separated couples

Some couples have - for various reasons - been separated for the duration of the lockdown, causing significant emotional distress and making a difficult situation even harder. Options should be considered to allow couples to reunite as quickly as possible. Particular attention should be paid to instances where one or both parties is part of a closed household with no other contacts. Ie. They live alone and are not working on the front line.

The rules as they stand are broad brush - for very good reason - but perhaps they need to be reviewed to consider more specific circumstances to allow some people to move more freely where the additional risk to health is minimal or non existent. Perhaps applications could be made to a panel for approval to visit certain people or receive special dispensation to act differently.

Why the contribution is important

There is a mental health consideration here, which the government states they are all too aware of. Some people have been living apart from loved ones - sometimes even alone - for a very considerable period now. Changes must be made as quickly as possible wherever possible, and this may require closer examination of personal circumstances.

by sro87 on May 05, 2020 at 01:27PM

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Average rating: 4.7
Based on: 49 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Newleaf11 May 05, 2020 at 13:32

    I totally agree with this. I haven't seen my partner for weeks and its really effecting my mental health and face time is really just not the same.

  • Posted by Switchqueen May 05, 2020 at 13:32

    Unless you go to live with this partner, this is not a safer interaction than meeting with friends.

  • Posted by Pandora5box May 05, 2020 at 13:33

    As long as it’s safe to do so

  • Posted by Fjhg May 05, 2020 at 13:36

    I completely agree. This should be considered different to meeting with friends it's a totally different dynamic. And one person full stop, it should be allowed.

  • Posted by Gillian66 May 05, 2020 at 13:39

    I live in a household of 3 adults and we are all separated from our respective partners.

    Totally agree apart from the applying to a panel bit. Too bureaucratic and impossible to police. People should be allowed to see their partners.

    Separated couples with young children can go between households at the moment. It is no different from that, especially in families with more than one step parent.

    It is safer than meeting with friends if there is only one partner and the individual concerned does not have to be a romantic relationship - could be friend or family member.

  • Posted by Suz May 05, 2020 at 13:43

    I haven’t had physical contact with my partner of 6 years for 6 weeks due to these restrictions. This is affecting us both negatively . We live alone but in separate households. I don’t see any reason why we can’t see each other now in our respective households now that the virus is coming under control.
    We both adhere to the other measures rigorously.

  • Posted by G123 May 05, 2020 at 13:51

    I hope this issue is addressed with as much significance as the ability to see family again is.

    The mental health aspect of being separated long term from your partner is just as significant, without a doubt.

    Sadly I can’t imagine how long it’ll be before I am allowed to see my partner again as he lives in the US.

  • Posted by mairi May 05, 2020 at 13:55

    The option of 'moving in with each other to test the strength of the relationship' is not always reasonable. It's not appropriate for couples who are newer or where one partner is still working (from home) while the other is furloughed. It would put a lot of unnecessary strain on the relationship which in turn could cause fighting and more anxiety.

    Your partner should be considered as part of 'your household'. Especially if they don't live with others/ those who are more at risk.

  • Posted by canmore May 05, 2020 at 14:00

    I live 120 miles from my partner and before lockdown spent every weekend together, i really hope this is addressed.

  • Posted by jcpren May 05, 2020 at 14:03

    I agree with this suggestion. My partner and I live separately, alone in each household, and the current situation is putting a terrible strain on us. What would be the harm in visiting each other, since neither of us risks carrying the virus to/from anyone else?

  • Posted by Margaret0308 May 05, 2020 at 14:18

    Totally agree with this. The suggestion that partners could move in together was ridiculous - in many cases this would leave properties empty and susceptible to being broken into, potentially in a situation of invalidated home insurance

  • Posted by San71 May 05, 2020 at 20:58

    I think that couples who live separately should be allowed to see each other as long as both are responsible. both my partner and I live alone he works from home and I am currently furloughed. Apart from essential shopping I have no contact with others and he is same so I see no harm in us meeting. it is very hard being apart for such a long time and facetime really is no substitute. I see no difference between couples seeing each other and children going from one parent to another or someone visiting elderly parent as long as you don't have any symptoms of any illness.

  • Posted by littlemiele May 06, 2020 at 08:52

    Me and my partner live in the same city, but decided it was too early to move in together. Not being able to see him has been really difficult for my mental health, my opportunities of being close with someone in these difficult times. I live with a flatmate, so feel quite lonely. Please help

  • Posted by Jayli May 06, 2020 at 13:42

    I totally agree with this. My partner lives 60 miles away, we both live rurally so have no neighbours, and therefore neither of us has had any human contact outside of the supermarket since lockdown started. Mentally it is very difficult, and being allowed to see each other and travel between each others homes would make a huge different to us both and make ongoing restrictions in other areas much easier to deal with.

    I can happily not go to the cinema, out for dinner, to the theatre or any of the other stuff I did prelockdown, but I am struggling with not seeing my other half and am very very lonely, and mentally in a difficult place.

  • Posted by April1886 May 06, 2020 at 15:33

    I agree with this. If you have a couple, both living on their own in separate homes, let them unite. A lot of people were caught off guard with no idea how long this could go on for. For people's mental well being. Please let couples reunite.

  • Posted by Rachael May 06, 2020 at 23:30

    I’d definitely welcome this. I now haven’t see my partner of 4 years for 7 weeks, a problem which is worsened by the fact I live alone, and therefore have not had contact with anyone in person since lockdown began. I’m not sure how much longer this level of isolation can last before it begins to have lasting effects on my mental health - I’ve already spent entire days crying and miserable. Even if it was just opened to being allowed to see 1 person outside your home, this would at least allow many of us some form of human interaction.

  • Posted by Kookaburra71 May 07, 2020 at 07:36

    My partner and I were at my house when lockdown started so he stayed with me at the time but we had only met 2 months before so after 4 weeks we decided that no we were not ready to move in together especially forced like that. He lived alone and so did I we had to go back to being separated or it would have broke us, we live fairly close a 20 min drive its not fair keeping people like that separated when no one else is affected by it. This is causing a lot of couples a massive amount of strain and anxiety risking losing the bond that has started. He is on furlough and already struggling with money worries unable to pay his rent and bills not being able to move freely is definitely affecting him and our relationship. We need to get the country moving for all our sanity before it kills in different ways.

  • Posted by jojoheath May 11, 2020 at 21:45

    I completely agree and think this is something that needs to be addressed, my fiancé and I have had to live apart for 7 weeks now, we both have children who we share access of, the children have been going to see their other parent, meanwhile we are both on our own and obeying the rules, it's really getting to us, both working from home so no contact with anyone else
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