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As the leaves fall from the trees and we descend into a long winter, every week he announces new lockdown rules in the UK.
Last night Greater Manchester became the third area in England to plunge into level 3 lockdown.
South Yorkshire will follow tonight, bringing more than 7 million people under the strictest restrictions. Warrington is scheduled to follow on Thursday next week.
Meanwhile, Wales has started blocking the circuit breakers which is approaching the March rules.
And three more areas – Stoke-on-Trent, Slough and Coventry – are entering Level 2 in England, with indoor gatherings between different households banned.
These are the key changes you need to know about today and tomorrow.
Rules that change on Friday
Greater Manchester enters level 3 lockdown
(Image: Getty)
Greater Manchester finally entered the Level 3 lockdown starting at 12:01 am on Friday after a bitter battle between Tube Mayor Andy Burnham and the government for workers’ support.
All 10 boroughs (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan) must close all pubs and bars unless they serve “substantial” meals.
Meeting with someone other than your home or bubble, either indoors or in private or ticketed outdoor spaces such as gardens, beer gardens, and restaurant terraces is prohibited.
The only place you can meet someone who is not in your bubble is in an open public space such as a park or forest. Here you must obey the rule of six.
People should try to avoid traveling in or out of the area or spending the night outside the area. People living in Level 3 must obey the rules of Level 3, even if they visit another Level.
People from outside the area must obey the Level 3 rules while in Greater Manchester.
All of the above are standard Level 3 rules.
Also, in Greater Manchester, gambling shops, casinos, bingo halls, adult gaming centers and soft-play areas must close.
Wales begins its breaker lockout
(Image: Getty Images)
Starting at 6pm on Friday 23 October, Wales enters a two-and-a-half-week national lockdown, known as a ‘firewall’ or ‘circuit breaker’.
There are some main rules:
- People must stay home except for very limited purposes.
- People should not visit other homes or meet other people they do not live with.
- Non-essential bars, restaurants and shops, as well as gyms and leisure centers, must close
- High schools are only available online during the week after midterm, except for Years 7 and 8. Elementary schools remain open.
- Face coverings are required in any indoor public space that remains open, with a few exceptions.
- People must work from home unless they are critical workers.
You can see a long list of exemptions and special circumstances here.
Rule change on Saturday
South Yorkshire enters level 3 lockdown
(Image: Getty Images)
South Yorkshire will be plunged into a Level 3 lockdown starting at 12:01 am on Saturday and pubs and bars will be forced to close.
It affects the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield council areas.
As in all Level 3 areas, pubs and bars must close unless they can operate as a restaurant serving “substantial” meals.
Soft play centers, gambling shops, casinos and adult gaming centers will also have to close in South Yorkshire in addition to the usual Level 3 restrictions.
Gyms and leisure centers will be allowed to remain open in the region, but leisure center classes will not be allowed.
As with all Level 3 lockouts, the rules are revised after 28 days.
Stoke-on-Trent, Slough and Coventry enter Level 2
Slough, Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry will be placed at the second highest level of Covid restrictions.
The new restrictions, which will mean that people cannot visit people from a separate bubble inside, will take effect on Saturday.
More than 29 million people in England will be on Level 2 or 3 on Saturday.
Another 10.5 million people are affected by strict national restrictions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Level 2 and 3 rules prohibit you from meeting socially with people who are not at home or who support the bubble anywhere indoors.
This includes both private houses and pubs and restaurants.
However, unlike Level 3, people in Level 2 areas can still meet in private gardens or beer gardens as long as they obey the rule of six.
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