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Boris Johnson has announced new restrictions in an attempt to slow the growing spread of COVID-19 in the UK amid warnings that cases and deaths could increase rapidly.
The prime minister said that unless there is evidence of progress, the measures may be in place in England for six months.
These are in addition to restrictions that already exist, with some areas having stricter rules than others due to local spikes.
Watch and follow live on Sky News for reactions to the announcement ahead of the Downing Street broadcast at 8pm
Sky News lists the new rules, what was already restricted, what you can do, and what the penalty is for breaking the rules.
What are the new restrictions?
- Curfew at 10pm for pubs, bars and restaurants from Thursday
- Table service only in hotel establishments
- Work from home if you can
- Customers should wear face covers in taxis as well as staff in retail.
- Indoor hospitality staff and customers must now wear face coverings
- As of Monday, only 15 people can attend the wedding service and reception; 30 people can still attend a funeral
- A maximum of six people can participate in indoor team sports
- Major sporting events and conferences will not take place from October 1, as previously planned.
- Businesses will be fined £ 10,000 and could be closed if they breach regulations
- The fine for people failing to cover their faces in shops, supermarkets, public transport, taxis and in indoor hospitality will double to £ 200 for the first offense, from £ 100
- This fine will be the same for those who break the “rule of six”
- Those who have been protecting need not do so, except in local lockdown areas.
What was already restricted?
- Indoor and outdoor social gatherings of more than six people are prohibited in England and Scotland.
- In Scotland, only two households can be in the group of six
- In Northern Ireland, households are not allowed to mix indoors and no more than six people from two households can gather outside as of Tuesday night.
- In Wales, six people are allowed indoors and 30 outside
- Venues, including pubs and restaurants, are legally required to request customer data for testing and tracking and keeping for 21 days.
- Face shields must be worn in stores, supermarkets, and on public transportation unless exempted for medical reasons.
What are you allowed to do?
- Households or support bubbles of more than six people can still meet
- Groups of more than six people are allowed for work or education.
- Places of worship, gyms, restaurants, and hospitality establishments can still hold more than six people in total
- Funerals with up to 30 people are allowed in England and Wales and 20 people in Scotland, whereas it depends on the location in Northern Ireland.
- Weddings of up to 15 people are allowed in England.
- Organized outdoor team sports conducted in a “COVID-safe” manner may have more than six people
What happens if you break the rules?
- For people who do not cover their faces and who are not exempt, in the legally established places there are fines of £ 200 in England, or £ 60 in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
- People with coronavirus symptoms who do not isolate themselves face £ 1,000 fines, increasing to £ 10,000 per repeat offense as of September 28
- If people prevent others from isolating themselves, such as bosses who threaten dismissal, they can also be fined.
- Businesses that violate the mask rules and the ‘rule of six’ will be fined £ 10,000 or shut down
- Anyone who breaks the rules on social gatherings will be fined £ 200 and the penalty will be doubled for each new offense up to £ 3,200.
- “Safe COVID Marshals” will enforce social distancing rules in city and town centers, the prime minister said.
- The Border Force is also stepping up enforcement of quarantine rules for travelers entering the country.
- There will be more cops on the streets to make sure the rules are followed
- The armed forces could be called in to assist the police if necessary
What areas have measures already increased?
Northeast England – Northumberland, Newcastle, Sunderland, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead and County Durham – already had a ban on mixing household air bubbles and a 10pm curfew with table service only for bars, pubs and restaurants.
Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales people were banned from entering or leaving the area “without a reasonable excuse”, while households cannot meet indoors and a 23:00 curfew was imposed in restaurants, pubs and bars.
Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull residents cannot blend in with any home indoors or outdoors except those in a support bubble.
Bolton Restaurants, cafes and bars are restricted to take-out only and must close at 10 pm, while mixing outside the homes in public outdoor places is prohibited.
Caerphilly, Welsh, had a prohibition for people to leave or enter the area without a reasonable excuse and everyone over the age of 11 must wear face covers in stores, while people must not meet other households indoors.
Parts of Greater Manchester, East Lancashire, Preston and West Yorkshire residents cannot meet anyone outside their home in a house or garden.
City of Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire Residents are prohibited from meeting people from another household within their home.
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Leicester Residents cannot meet anyone from another household in a house or garden, but those who protect will no longer have to do so as of October 5.
North West England – Merseyside, Warrington, Halton and Lancashire – residents cannot socialize with other households starting Tuesday, while hospitality venues have a 10pm curfew and table service only.
The central region – Wolverhampton and Oadby and Wigston – Residents are prohibited from socializing with other households in private homes and gardens starting Tuesday.
Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale West Yorkshire has also seen a ban on people from socializing with other households in private homes and gardens starting Tuesday.
Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport and Blaenau Gwent in South Wales are under a local lock as of Tuesday, with unauthorized persons to leave or enter those areas without a reasonable excuse, the places closed after 22:00 hours and the indoor meetings prohibited.
