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People in England can meet with up to six people in an outdoor space from 1 June – including a private garden – as long as they maintain social distancing. 

Boris Johnson even said barbecues are allowed, providing people are “scrupulous” about washing their hands. But it’s got a lot of people thinking: what happens when you’ve had a drink (or three) and really, really need the loo? 

Although the latest guidance says meetings should take place outside, Professor Chris Whitty, the UK government’s chief medical adviser, did agree that using the toilet may be essential. In such instances, he said you can enter the person’s home, but urged caution. 

“If someone was to go into the loo because they had to do that, it’s absolutely critical that they wipe everything down, wash their hands all the way through,” he said. 

Prof. Whitty reiterated that the two main ways you can catch coronavirus are through droplets in the air – which is why the two metre rule is still in place – and touching contaminated surfaces. That’s why washing hands is so crucial.

Experts have previously warned of the risk of spreading and catching the virus in toilets. Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases at the University of East Anglia, told HuffPost UK the public should be cautious about using public loos on beach trips. 

“If you do use public toilets, for God’s sake wash your hands properly afterwards,” he said. “People so often don’t wash their hands and that’s disgusting at the best of times, but during a Covid pandemic, it’s criminal.”