Coronavirus Q&A: Can children visit separated parents during lockdown?

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Coronavirus Q&A: Can children visit separated parents during lockdown?
25 March 2020 • 1:19pm
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Our experts will be answering your questions on parenting and custody during the coronavirus lockdown Credit: PeopleImages/Digital Vision
Sally Peck , Family, education and careers editor
25 March 2020 • 1:19pm
Coronavirus
Children of parents who are separated or share custody are able to move between houses during the coronavirus lockdown , the Government has said. But what are the rules?
Michael Gove sparked fear earlier this week when he suggested that children should not travel between households. But he later apologised for causing confusion, saying it "may be necessary" for some to children to move.
But what are the rules under the strict new measures designed to slow the spread of Covid-19?
The government guidance says : "Where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their parents' homes."
Put your specific questions to our family lawyer, who can offer advice on what families can do to continue custody arrangements and protect their children while obviously taking all necessary precautions as per government advice. 
How to ask a question
Leave your questions in the comments section at the bottom of this article and then return back to this page at 1 p.m. (GMT) for the live Q&A. Alternatively, if you are reading this on the Telegraph app, or don’t have a Telegraph account, you can submit a question by emailing  yourstory@telegraph.co.uk . If you would like to remain anonymous, please disclose this when you ask your question.
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Will my granddaughter be allowed to visit me and my wife?
This question comes from Neil via email. Neil asks about his granddaughter: 
'Following Michael Gove's comments yesterday with regard to children of separated parents. I have a four-year-old granddaughter and have been a father figure to her since her birth. Would she be allowed to come to my house occasionally to visit me and my wife.
'My wife and I both have moderate COPD.'
Here's what our family lawyer had to say:
 The Government advice is that, unfortunately, due to your medical condition, your granddaughter should not visit you and your wife due to the risk involved should you and/or your wife become infected.  Furthermore, the exception to the Stay at Home Rules is for children to move between separated parents. This exception does not cover wider family members. However, you can use alternative forms of contact to maintain a relationship with your granddaughter through remote means (Face-Time, Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp Video calling, or by telephone).
What is the advice for single parents who are key workers?
Our new question comes from Gill, also via email. Gill asks:
'We are unsure of the rules for my grandchildren. My daughter works in a supermarket, so classes as a key worker. She has two children aged five and one, what is she supposed to do? It's very confusing as the message seems to be that children should stay home, not go to their fathers’ or other family. How can she work when she can't put her children anywhere!  She is at the moment on seven day self isolation as all three became ill on Saturday with bad cold.
'What is the advice for single parents who are key workers?'
Our family lawyer has the following advice:
The Government guidelines are that children under 18 can travel between households.  If their father can assist with childcare then the children can spend time with him enabling your daughter to work, when she is out of self-isolation. Parents should not rely for childcare upon those who are advised to be in the stringent social distancing category, which includes grandparents.  The children would be entitled to take advantage of the nursery/school provision for key workers but, in the circumstances, having their father look after them would seem to be more in line with government guidelines.  
Can my child go back and forth between mine and my partner's home?
Our first question comes from Kelly via email. Kelly asks: 
'Would be okay to take my child back and forth from my home on weekdays to my partner's home on weekends during the lockdown?'
Our family lawyer has the following advice:
If your partner is the child's father then the Government guidelines allow for children under the age of 18 to move between households. However, if your partner is not the child’s father then this would be a grey area as it is doubtful that this would constitute essential travel.