What are the new rules for social distancing?

Guidance on hugging friends and family has changed, but that's not the end of social distancing.

Measures are still in place to limit the spread of Covid.

You can choose whether or not to be socially distanced from family and friends you don't live with, in England.

The government says it wants to let people exercise "personal judgement" on close contact with others.

So if you want to hug each other, you can.

However, everyone is still being told to remain cautious and remember some people are more vulnerable to Covid than others.

Coronavirus spreads mainly when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks - sending small droplets, packed with the virus, into the air. The further apart people are, the lower the risk of them being infected.

Advice has been issued for other parts of the UK:

The advice across the UK remains that you should stay 2m (6ft) away from anyone you don't live or bubble with.

In England, if you can't stay 2m apart, the one-metre plus guidance means you should be at least 1m (3ft) apart with extra precautions in place (such as face coverings).

In Scotland, in some pubs and restaurants, you can be 1m apart from people you don't live with. But if you meet friends, venues should ensure there is enough space between you.

You will be committing an offence and could be fined if you refuse to wear a face covering in many public places, include public transport and shops.

Some people are exempt - such as children aged under 11, and some people with physical or mental impairments.

There are similar rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In England, face coverings are no longer recommended for pupils in secondary school classrooms.

Face covering measures are still in place for pupils and staff in secondary/high schools in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

There are legal limits, rather than guidance, on the number of people who can meet.

In England:

Children of all ages are included in headcounts, but professional carers are not. Support bubbles count as one household.

In Scotland, apart from Glasgow and most islands:

Children aged under 12 are not included in headcounts, but they are when counting household numbers indoors.

So, for example, an indoor children's party can only have youngsters from three households.

Most islands have less restrictive Covid protection level one rules. Glasgow remains at level three, with stricter rules in place.

In Wales:

In Northern Ireland from 24 May:

It's hoped the removal of "all legal limits on social contact" in England will be in step four of the government roadmap, on 21 June at the earliest.

First, a review into social distancing - including face coverings and working from home guidance - needs to report.

The prime minister has warned the India variant could pose "serious disruption" to lockdown easing.