People with disabilities, including autism, can travel beyond their local area for exercise during lockdown, the UK Government has clarified.
And, just as in previous lockdowns, disabled people can go out more than once a day for exercise.
An illustration of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19
Jane Harris is the spokesperson for the National Autistic Society (NAS).
Exemptions to protect autistic people
She said everyone must remember there are exemptions to the lockdown rules to protect autistic people.
Harris said small changes “can trigger extreme anxiety” and “feel catastrophic” for autistic people.
The pace of change and disruption of the past year has been “incredibly hard for autistic people”, she added.
‘Travel as short a distance as possible’
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said those with health conditions that mean they routinely need to leave home can do so. This includes “if that involves travel beyond your local area or exercising several times a day”.
But the Government advises people to “travel as short a distance as possible”.
Children under five, and up to two carers for a person with a disability who needs continuous care, are not counted towards gatherings limits for exercising outside.
Limit on indoor gatherings
The gatherings limit says you can meet only people in your support bubble or one other person who doesn’t live with you for exercise.
But the exemptions don’t allow people to meet socially indoors with others they are not living with, unless they form part of a support bubble.
In England, single adults living alone, or single parents whose children are under 18, can form a support bubble with one other household.
The other household can include people who are “at risk” and may be shielding and can be of any size.
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Published: 20 January 2021
