Covid: What do England's new lockdown rules mean for me?
Video report by ITV News Reporter Stacey Foster
A new national lockdown across England means people must stay at home unless for specific reasons, such as attending school or college, or going to the supermarket.
With the NHS under threat from the spread of Covid-19, Boris Johnson has ordered action to be taken - some six weeks after Sage scientists first suggested a "circuit-breaker" should be enacted.
– When do the new rules come into force?
The new national lockdown will run from Thursday November 5 until Wednesday December 2.
The lockdown will then be eased on a regional basis according to the latest coronavirus case data at that time.
– Can I leave my home?
Yes, but only for specific reasons such as education, work if you cannot work from home and for exercise, which you can take as many times a day as you wish.
People can also leave for recreation with their own household, or on their own with one person from another household (a ‘one plus one’ rule).
Examples of recreation include meeting up with a friend in the park for a walk or to sit on a bench and eat a sandwich. People will not be allowed to meet in homes and gardens, and golf clubs will remain shut.
People can also leave home to shop for food and essentials and to provide care for vulnerable people or as a volunteer.
Attending medical appointments is also allowed or to escape injury or harm (such as for people suffering domestic abuse).
Support bubbles will remain in place and people can still meet up in their bubble.
Children can move between the homes of their parents if their parents are separated.
– What will close?
Non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues will all be closed.
Click and collect can continue and essential shops such as supermarkets, food shops and garden centres will remain open.
Bars, pubs and restaurants must stay closed except for delivery or take-away services.
Hairdressers and beauty salons will close.
Hotels, hostels and other accommodation should only open for those who have to travel for work purposes.
NHS and medical services like GPs will remain open, as will Jobcentre Plus sites , Courts and Civil Registrations Offices.
- Can I still go to work?
People are advised to work from home where possible.
Where people cannot do so (for instance people who work in critical national infrastructure, construction or manufacturing) they should continue traveling to work.
Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work .
– What if I shielded last time?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said people over 60 and those who are clinically vulnerable are being told to be especially careful to follow the rules and minimise their contact with others.
Anyone who was formally notified that they should shield last time and not go out to work will be advised not to go out to work this time.
However, formal shielding as happened during the March and April lockdown – where people were told not to leave home for any reason – will not be brought in.
– Should my children go to school or to the childminder? Can they go to a playground?
Yes, schools, colleges and universities will all remain open.
Childminders and nurseries will stay open and childcare bubbles, where for example a grandparent provides childcare while a parent works, will be able to continue.
After-school clubs and sports clubs will be suspended until December 2.
Playgrounds and parks will remain open.
– Can I go on holiday?
No, you are advised not to travel unless for essential reasons.
International travel out of the country, except for essential work reasons, will be banned and anyone returning to England will be forced to quarantine for two weeks.
Those who are already on holiday will be able to return to the UK.
– Is there a furlough scheme?
Yes, furlough will be payable at 80% for the duration of the package of tougher national measures.
– Can I go to church?
Churches will remain open for private prayer, to broadcast acts of worship , for individual prayer , formal childcare or where part of a school , and essential voluntary and public services, such as blood donation or food banks .
Funerals will still be allowed to take place, with a maximum of 30 people and linked events such as stone settings and ash scatterings can continue with a maximum of 15 people.
Weddings will not be permitted to take place except in "exceptional circumstances".
– Will Premier League football matches continue?
Yes. Boris Johnson said games would continue despite the restrictions.
– What if I live in an area with lower cases?
You must still observe the rules as they apply across England. Professor Chris Whitty said that many of the areas with lower case numbers have the highest rates of increase.
He also warned: “Some areas including the South West are likely to get pressure on beds really relatively early because of the way the NHS is constructed in those areas.”