Covid: The new lockdown rules for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Published
Covid restrictions are in place across the UK, with new rules for everything from meeting friends to going to the shops.
Tougher lockdown restrictions are being introduced in parts of central and western Scotland.
How does Scotland's new five-tier system work?
Each area of Scotland has been placed in one of five tiers.
Eleven local authority areas in west and central Scotland will move from level three to level four - the highest level - from 18:00 GMT on Friday 20 November.
The areas are: City of Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs the level four measures would be lifted on Friday 11 December.
She also announced that East Lothian and Midlothian would move down from level three to level two on Tuesday 24 November.
- Level zero - Near normal life
- Level one - In Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, up to six people from two households can meet inside their homes. This is not allowed in Highlands or Moray. From Thursday 19 November, people living in all level one areas can meet up to seven other people outdoors, from a maximum of three households
- Level two - No gatherings inside people's homes, but up to six people from two households can meet outdoors or at a pub or restaurant. Most hospitality venues can open. Alcohol can be served indoors with a meal until 20:00 and outdoors until 22:30
- Level three - No indoor gatherings at home. Pubs and restaurants can open until 18:00 but alcohol cannot be served. Leisure and entertainment venues are closed. Non-essential travel in or out of the area advised against
- Level four - Non-essential shops, pubs and restaurants, and gyms close
Schools stay open in all levels.
Guidance on travel restrictions in Scotland will become law from Friday 20 November.
People living in level three or level four must not travel outside their own council area, except for certain essential purposes. Those living elsewhere in Scotland must not travel to level three or level four areas, apart from limited exceptional circumstances.
There must also be no non-essential travel between Scotland the rest of the UK.
What are the current rules in England?
The current lockdown is due to last until Wednesday 2 December.
The Covid tier system may then need to be "strengthened" , according to government adviser Dr Susan Hopkins from Public Health England. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has said the three-tier system is being reviewed to see which rules were most effective.
Staying at home and seeing people
- Stay at home except for education, work (if it can't be done from home), exercise, medical reasons, shopping for essentials, or to care for others
- Households must not mix with others indoors, or in private gardens
- You can meet one person from outside your household in an outdoor public space - children under five don't count
- Support bubbles for people living alone and single parent households can continue
- Support groups of 15 or fewer people are allowed, including those for new parents or people recovering from addictions
- Children can move between homes if parents are separated
- Informal childcare support bubbles for children aged 13 or under can continue
- It's possible to visit friends and family in care homes as long as Covid-secure measures are in place, such as the use of floor-to-ceiling screens or visiting pods
Going to work or school
- Schools, nurseries, colleges and universities remain open
- Staff and pupils at secondary schools (Year 7 and above) must wear face coverings in communal areas outside the classroom
- Childminders and nannies can continue to provide childcare, including in people's homes
- Students at university must not return to their permanent home until the end of term
- Workplaces can stay open if people cannot work from home - including construction and manufacturing
- Clinically vulnerable people are advised not to go to work if they can't work from home
Exercise
- You can exercise outdoors on your own, or with members of your household or support bubble, or with one other person from outside your household
- As long as you follow the rules above, you can exercise outside as much as you want
- Outdoor playgrounds can remain open
- All leisure and sports centres and gyms, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, golf courses, fitness and dance studios, climbing walls, archery, driving, and shooting ranges must close
- Elite sport can carry on behind closed doors
- Grassroots team sports are not allowed
What about shops, pubs and other venues?
- Pubs and restaurants must close (takeaways/deliveries can continue)
- Non-essential shops must close (click-and-collect/deliveries can continue)
- All personal care facilities must close, including hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons. Staff cannot offer these services in people's homes
- Supermarkets, food shops, off-licences, petrol stations and pharmacies can remain open
- Bike shops, hardware stores, dry cleaners, banks, post offices, garden centres and pet shops can also remain open
- Motorway services stations can remain open
- Waste and recycling centres can remain open
- Medical services can continue, including dentist and optician appointments
- Libraries can remain open for click-and-collect services, and to allow IT access
What about worship, weddings and funerals?
- Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are not allowed, apart from in exceptional circumstances
- Only 30 people can attend a funeral. Linked ceremonial events such as stone settings and ash scatterings can also continue with up to 15 people
- Apart from funerals, places of worship will only be open to allow individual prayer or services to be broadcast congregations
Can I still move house?
- You can still visit potential properties, purchase a new property and move into a new property during this time
- You can stay in a hotel overnight if necessary
- Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work
- People outside your household or support bubble should not help with moving house unless absolutely essential. You should wear a mask and maintain social distancing wherever possible
What are Northern Ireland's current rules?
The bulk of Northern Ireland's restrictions will last until midnight on Thursday 26 November.
Currently:
- Pubs, bars and restaurants are shut, except for takeaways and deliveries, which must stop by 23:00
- Support bubbles are limited to a maximum of 10 people from two households
- You can't stay overnight in someone else's home, unless you bubble with them
- Close-contact services like hairdressers and beauticians must close, except for essential services
- No indoor or contact sport is allowed unless at elite level - gyms are open for individual exercise only
- No mass events of more than 15 people are allowed, apart from certain sporting events
- Wedding ceremonies are limited to 25 people, with no receptions
- Funerals are limited to 25 people, with no wakes before or after
From Friday 20 November there'll be a gradual easing:
- Close-contact services, including hair and beauty salons and driving tuition, will be able to reopen by appointment
- Unlicensed hospitality premises, such as cafes and coffee shops, can open - but must close by 20:00 GMT
- Pubs and bars will be allowed to sell sealed alcohol (bottles and cans) for takeaway
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said the executive will do all it can to "protect" as much of the Christmas period as possible. Her comments came after NI's chief scientific adviser Prof Ian Young warned further restrictions will likely be recommended before the festive period.
What are the rules in Wales?
Lockdown restrictions in Wales were eased on 9 November.
The current rules say:
People who you don't live with still cannot come into your home socially, unless you are in an extended household (bubble) with them. Tradespeople are allowed to enter your home to carry out work.
Do you meet other people for exercise? Have you been out walking during the November lockdown? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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