Health officials are expecting Nottingham to be the next city to be placed into local lockdown after a surge in Covid-19 cases.
The city's infection rate has soared, with 1,273 new cases recorded in the seven days to October 2 - the equivalent of 382.4 cases per 100,000 people. This is up from 59.5 per 100,000 in the seven days to September 25.
The director of public health for Nottingham, Alison Challenger, said current restrictions in the city "are no longer enough to stop the spread of the virus".
The rising rate has coincided with a recent outbreak at the University of Nottingham, as figures on its website showed 425 students had tested positive for Covid-19 during the week ending last Friday.
Nottingham City Council said it was expecting the Government to introduce tougher rules later this week, "similar to those introduced in other cities such as Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds".
Greater Manchester has been under a local lockdown since the end of July, with household mixing banned in homes and gardens in Manchester, Salford, Trafford, Bury, Tameside, and Rochdale.
Existing measures for Northumberland, Newcastle, Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham were tightened from September 30 at the request of local authorities because the virus was still spreading. More than 750 students at Northumbria University have tested positive for Covid-19, the biggest outbreak in Britain so far.
New coronavirus restrictions in Liverpool, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough came into force at midnight on Saturday October 3.
Two-thirds of the population of Wales are also now living under additional measures after three more local authority areas entered local lockdowns from September 28. Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan are the latest Welsh regions to have restrictions imposed.
Here's everything we know about the local lockdown restrictions.
What is the 'traffic light' system?
Local lockdowns are to be automatically triggered by a three-tier "traffic light" system, with alerts sent directly to people's mobile phones. The planned new approach divides the country into different areas based on local infection rates, which will dictate the severity of local lockdowns.
It will work alongside the new NHS Test and Trace app, which sees people scanning a special QR code to enter and exit pubs, restaurants and bars. The app will then send a message to the user about lockdown conditions when the coronavirus risk profile changes.
In England, there are currently zero areas in the UK that are considered 'low-risk' by the new app.
Read more: Can I go on holiday in local lockdown?
Which areas are in local lockdown and what are the rules?
Liverpool and Teesside
Tighter restrictions on social mixing were imposed in the Liverpool city region, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough from midnight on Saturday 3 October.
In a statement, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Commons: "Earlier this week we brought in further measures in the North East, however in parts of Teesside and the North-West of England cases continue to rise fast.
"In Liverpool, the number of cases is 268 per 100,000 population, so together we need to act. Working with council leaders and the mayors, I'm today extending these measures that have been in the North East since the start of this week to the Liverpool City Region, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.
"We will provide £7 million to local authorities in these areas to support them with their vital work."
He said the rules would be the same as those announced earlier in the week for the North East, which include a ban on social mixing between different households.
He said: "We will bring in regulations, as we have in the North East, to prevent in law social mixing between people in different households in all settings except outdoor public spaces like parks and outdoor hospitality."
Other measures include a recommendation that people should not attend professional or amateur sporting events as spectators in the areas that are affected, a recommendation that people only visit care homes in exceptional circumstances, and guidance against all but essential travel (although essential travel includes going to work or school).
North East
Households in Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham will not be allowed to meet other households indoors, including in hospitality settings, from September 30.
"In the North East, new rules mean you cannot meet people from different households in social settings indoors, including in pubs, restaurants and your home," Boris Johnson wrote, following initial confusion about the new laws.
He also urged people in the North East to "avoid socialising with other households outside".
Since September 18, hospitality for food and drink has been restricted to table service only and a 10pm curfew was placed on leisure and entertainment venues, curbs that were then introduced nationally.
All of these areas have seen a significant increase in cases, with Sunderland now having an incidence rate of 185.5 per 100,000 of population, up from 107.3 the previous week. In South Tyneside, Gateshead and Newcastle, this rate is above 70.
"I know that these decisions have a real impact on families, on businesses and local communities. And I can tell everyone effected that we do not take these decisions lightly," said Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary.
"I know that the people of the North East will come together to defeat this virus, as defeat it we must."
Leeds
Leeds entered a local lockdown from midnight on September 26.
Individuals are banned from socialising with people indoors or outdoors at each other's homes. This is to be made law and a fine will apply if this is breached. Exemptions will apply for children with parents living apart, existing social bubbles, and tradespeople including builders.
Leeds Council has said that the local lockdown measures will be in place for "as long as it takes" to stem the rate of infection, a spokesman has told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
All existing national restrictions on the 'rule of six', social distancing and 10pm hospitality curfews will apply.
Wales including Cardiff, Swansea and Llanelli
Two-thirds of the population of Wales are now living in lockdown, including the country's capital Cardiff plus Swansea and Llanelli.
Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan all had new restrictions introduced from September 28.
The restrictions mean people should not meet indoors, aside from extended households, and nor should they enter or leave their regions without a "reasonable" excuse.
People must also work from home whenever possible, the Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said.
The rules have also been tightened in Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, and Rhondda Cynon Taf. And on October 1, new restrictions were introduced in Conwy, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham.
People will not be allowed to enter or leave these areas without a reasonable excuse, such as travel for work or education, and people will only be able to meet others they don’t live with outdoors for the time being.
In those areas, people have not been allowed to leave or enter the county area without a "reasonable excuse", people over 11 must wear face coverings in shops, and people will only be allowed to meet outdoors. Extended households have also been temporarily suspended.
London
London has not yet confirmed any local lockdown measures, but it has been added to the Public Health England's watch list which sets out areas of concern following a rise in infections.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has not ruled out introducing new lockdown measures specific to London amid a rising tide in infections.
Mr Khan had what was described as a "constructive" conversation about potential measures with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on September 22.
Mr Johnson also said he has not ruled out tougher action in the capital:
North West
Households in Merseyside, Warrington, Halton and Lancashire (excluding Blackpool and Greater Manchester), are banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubble.
The national guidance with regards to table-service hospitality and the 10pm entertainment and leisure curfew has applied since September 22.
Residents are also advised to adhere to the following guidance to further reduce rates of infection:
- Only to use public transport for essential purposes, such as travelling to school or work
- Avoid attending amateur and semi-professional sporting events as spectators.
The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said on September 18: “We are seeing cases of coronavirus rise fast in Lancashire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Warrington, Halton and Wolverhampton.
"Local leaders in these areas have asked for stronger restrictions to be put in place to protect local people, and we are acting decisively to support them."
Midlands
In Wolverhampton and Oadby & Wigston residents have been banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens since September 22.
- Individuals who are shielding in Leicester City will no longer need to from October 5.
West Yorkshire
All parts of Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale have been banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens, from September 22.
Some wards in these areas had been exempt from restrictions on gatherings introduced at the start of August, but these wards will now also be subject to the ban.
Birmingham
Includes: Solihull and Sandwell boroughs
Households in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull have been banned from meeting each other since September 15.
You must not:
- Host people you do not live with in your home or garden, unless they’re in your support bubble
- Meet people you do not live with in their home or garden, whether inside or outside of the affected areas, unless they’re in your support bubble
Your household is defined as the people you live with and any support bubble. A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household. Households within a bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight and visit public places together.
It comes as cases in Birmingham increased rapidly, with more than 1,600 new infections recorded in the seven days to September 25.
Greater Manchester
Includes: City of Manchester, Trafford, Oldham, Bury, Bolton, Tameside, Rochdale, Stockport, Wigan and Salford.
The following restrictions - in addition to all of those below - apply to Bolton:
- All hospitality venues in Bolton have been restricted to takeaway service only, meaning the closures of pubs and restaurants - bringing the town back in line with the national restrictions prior to July 4
- All venues will be required to close between 10pm and 5am
- Visits to care homes and hospitals in Bolton will also be tightly restricted
You must not:
- Meet people you do not live with inside a private home or garden, except where you have formed a support bubble, or for other limited reasons specified in law
- Visit someone else’s home or garden even if they live outside of the affected areas
You should not:
- Socialise with people you do not live with in other indoor public venues – such as pubs, restaurants and cafes (all of which are now takeaway-only in Bolton), shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions
- You may attend these venues with people you live with (or are in a support bubble with), but should avoid interaction with individuals or groups from other households. If you run such a business or organise events on their premises, you should take steps to ensure people do not interact with people they do not live with, in line with Covid-19 secure guidance
- Visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should make sure that they restrict visits to these circumstances. Restrictions are tightest in this regard in Bolton
The following cannot reopen or resume:
- Casinos
- Skating rinks
- Bowling alleys
- Indoor play areas, including soft play areas
- Exhibition centres and conference halls
- Close contact services, which are any treatments on the face such as eyebrow threading or make-up application
- Wedding receptions and celebrations for more than 15 people, in the form of a sit-down meal
Figures released on October 4 show the infection rate in Manchester has risen more than 15-fold since the local lockdown has been introduced.
The latest statistics show Manchester's rate at now 335.9 cases per 100,000 - one of the worst in the country, having surpassed 200 per 100,000 in recent days.
When restrictions were introduced across parts of the North West in July, the figure was around 20 per 100,000.
Lancashire
Includes: Blackburn, Pendle and Preston,
In Rossendale, Hyndburn, Burnley and South Ribble, West Lancashire, Chorley, Wyre, Fylde, Lancaster, Ribble Valley new restrictions were imposed on September 18.
You must not:
- Meet people you do not live with inside a private home or garden, except where you have formed a support bubble (or for other limited exemptions to be specified in law)
- Visit someone else’s home or garden even if they live outside of the affected areas
You should not:
- Socialise with people you do not live with in other indoor public venues – such as pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions. You may attend these venues with people you live with (or are in a support bubble with), but should avoid interaction with individuals or groups from other households. If you run such a business or organise events on their premises, you should take steps to ensure people do not interact with people they do not live with, in line with Covid-19 secure guidance
- Visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should restrict visits to these circumstances
The following cannot reopen or resume:
- Casinos
- Skating rinks
- Bowling alleys
- Indoor play areas, including soft play areas
- Exhibition centres and conference halls
- Close-contact services, which are any treatments on the face such as eyebrow threading or make-up application
- Wedding receptions and celebrations for more than 15 people, in the form of a sit-down meal
In Blackburn the following must also remain closed:
- Indoor gyms
- Indoor fitness and dance studios
- Indoor sports courts and facilities
- Indoor swimming pools, including indoor facilities at water parks
Leicester
Includes: Leicester City, and, since September 22, Oadby and Wigston (borough council area)
You must not:
- Meet people from different households in a private home or garden
- Host people you do not live with in your home or garden, unless they’re in your support bubble
- Meet people you do not live with in their home or garden, whether inside or outside of Leicester, unless they’re in your support bubble
Some business were able to reopen in Leicester from September 15 and will now be subject to the same business restrictions as the majority of England.
They were:
-
Casinos
-
Skating rinks
-
Bowling alleys
-
Exhibition halls
-
Conference centres
-
Indoor play areas (including soft play areas)
Leisure centres, gyms and pools must remain closed within the area.
Guidance will be updated and socially distanced indoor performances will be able to resume, and remaining restrictions on certain close contact services (treatments on the face, such as eyebrow threading or make-up application) will be lifted.
Scotland
The rules: People in all areas of Scotland should not meet with people from other households in indoor household settings.
Members of different households can continue to meet outdoors, including in gardens, and in hospitality settings, although a 10pm curfew on hospitality settings applies, and the groups must be no larger than six people from two different households.
Anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 should isolate for 14 days. This quarantine extends to everyone in their household group.
Indoor visits to hospitals and care homes are limited to essential visits only. Outdoor visits to care homes are permitted by up to three individuals at a time from no more than two households.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she is keeping under review the imposition of a 'circuit breaker' lockdown in the October half term - a short but extreme shutdown designed to have a sharp impact on breaking the chain of transmission.
Northern Ireland
The rules: Restrictions on social gatherings are now imposed across the entirety of Northern Ireland, First Minister Arlene Foster has announced.
There will be no mixing of two households indoors except for single-person household bubbles and certain other exemptions.
No more than six people from two households can meet in private gardens, the DUP leader said.
How are the restrictions enforced?
The police will be able to take action against those who break these rules, including asking people to disperse and issuing £100 fixed penalty notices. For repeat offenders, these fines can increase up to £3,200.
People aged 18 or over can be fined:
- £200 for the first offence, lowered to £100 if paid within 14 days
- £400 for the second offence, then doubling for each further offence up to a maximum of £6,400
Read more: Will London go into local lockdown?
Should I shield?
The Government advice for vulnerable people to shield ended on August 1, but clinically extremely vulnerable people in Leicester and Blackburn are still being advised to shield.
But if cases of the virus return to dangerous levels up to 4.5 million people deemed to be at risk of serious illness from Covid-19 will be asked to stay at home or given tailored advice on protecting themselves.
Read more: When will pub curfews start?
Can I travel in the lockdown areas?
You should try not to share a car with those outside your household or social bubble. If you need to, the Government advises you to:
- Share the transport with the same people each time
- Keep to small groups of people at any one time
- Open windows for ventilation
- Travel side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them
- Face away from each other
- Consider seating arrangements to maximise distance between people in the vehicle
- Clean your car between journeys using standard cleaning products – make sure you clean door handles and other areas that people may touch
- Ask the driver and passengers to wear a face mask
Read more: Can I travel with friends, and stay overnight with family?
Can I visit my family in one of the lockdown areas?
No. Two households are no longer permitted to meet at home or in a private garden, except where they have formed a support bubble.
You should not travel outside of your area to meet people other than those in your support bubble, in their homes or gardens, or indoor public places.
You can only go on holiday outside of your area with people you live with (or have formed a support bubble with).
What if they want to visit me?
The same rule applies. Even if you live outside the lockdown zone, they are not allowed to come to your home.
I live in one of these areas. Can I see my family and friends?
People living in the lockdown zones can meet in outdoor public spaces in groups of up to six people. They will still be required to socially distance.
Can I go to work?
There is no restriction on travelling to and from the office.
Should I cancel my wedding?
Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are still permitted, with up to 15 people able to attend. However, large receptions or parties afterwards should not go ahead. People can also travel in and out of lockdown zones to attend weddings.
Funerals with up to 30 attendees can also take place.
Read more: The latest wedding rules
Can I go to a place of worship?
You may attend a mosque, church, synagogue, temple or other place or worship, but you should socially distance from people outside of your household. Maintain a distance of two metre, or one metre if you are wearing a mask.
If possible, prayer or religious services should take place outdoors.
