The government has made public gatherings of more than 30 people illegal for the first time before a further lifting of coronavirus restrictions this weekend.
Downing Street said the new coronavirus regulations, which take effect on July 4, will put a limit on meetings at home and in outdoor spaces that are not considered COVID-19 safe.
On Friday morning, Health Secretary Matt Hancock signed health protection regulations and they were released later in the afternoon.
The police will have powers to enforce the new limit at meetings. However, pubs and restaurants with a large interior capacity will be exempt from the new limit in social gatherings.
The news previews the reduction of closing restrictions as pubs prepare to reopen starting Saturday, which was originally scheduled for after midnight.
But hours later, the government amended the legislation to prevent pubs from reopening until 6 a.m. on Saturday.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson said: “What they do is set the limit of 30 people in meetings in private homes and outdoor spaces where you are not in a safe COVID 19 environment.
“The regulations also maintain a list of venues that must remain closed, including nightclubs, nail bars and salons, indoor play areas, gyms, conference centers, and showrooms.
“Those regulations take effect mainly at 12.01 am on Saturday, July 4. The reopening of pubs and bars specifically takes effect at 6am. That would be in the event that someone tried to open at midnight. “
The two-house rule for indoor or outdoor meetings will remain in effect, but Downing Street said a 30-person limit would be set in the legislation to avoid mass gatherings.
“The reason for setting the number at 30 is that we have to put a number in the law and that is to provide the police with the powers they need to break a rave or some other large gathering that is clearly irresponsible and violates the law.” social distancing rules ”, added the Prime Minister’s spokesman.
Legal commentators have criticized the process after the law was published just hours before it went into effect without debate on the change in legislation.
Human rights lawyer Adam Wagner tweeted: “It is completely ridiculous and irresponsible that new and complex criminal laws are released by Coronacada by the Coronavirus Regulation hours before they take effect for all of England, tens of millions of people.”
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