Covid-19: What are the different lockdown and tier rules across the UK?

Credit: PA

New lockdown restrictions for England, a tier system in Scotland, upcoming new measures in Wales as well as an ongoing lockdown in Northern Ireland mean the four nations of the UK have different methods in dealing with the Covid second wave.

A different set of rules is now in place in each nation, established by the separate devolved governments.

This is the picture in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Shoppers in Birmingham buy in bulk ahead of England's national lockdown. Credit: PA

England

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced new lockdown measures for the whole of England due to last until 2 December.

Similar to the first lockdown, pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential retail will be forced to close.

People will be told to stay at home unless they have a specific reason to leave and people are encouraged to only travel to work if they cannot work from home.

This time around, however, schools, colleges and nurseries will remain open.

People will be allowed outside to exercise but can only meet with one other person outside of their household and this must be in an outdoor public space.

Meetings with members outside of your household are banned indoors and in private gardens.

Welsh Government announced that Wales would enter a fire-break lockdown in response to increasing numbers of coronavirus cases. Credit: PA

Wales

The firebreak lockdown began on October 23 and came to an end on Monday.

Under the new set of restrictions, groups of up to four people can now meet up in cafes, pubs and restaurants while shops, gyms, hairdressers and places of worship will also reopen.

Supermarkets can again sell non-essential items while people will only be allowed to meet up inside homes with members of one other household if they have joined a “bubble”.

A 10pm curfew on alcohol sales will carry over from before the firebreak, with people required to prove their home address in bars following concerns people in England could flout its own lockdown and travel to Wales for a drink.

There are no restrictions on travel within Wales, but people will not be allowed to travel outside of the country unless for a reasonable excuse such as work.

Up to 15 people can take part in an organised indoor activity and up to 30 in an organised activity outdoors, providing all social distancing, hand hygiene and other Covid-19 safety measures are followed.

Primary schools and years seven and eight in secondary schools remained open during the lockdown apart from the half term break. But all schools and year groups will resume from Monday.

Universities will resume a combination of in-person teaching and blended learning.

Nicola Sturgeon has new restrictions in Scotland. Credit: PA

Scotland

Scotland is operating a five-tier system - similar to the one briefly in place in England.

The majority of Scots entered Level 3 at 6am on Monday, with the rest of the country placed in either Levels 1 or 2.

The central belt - including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Falkirk - has been joined by Dundee and Ayrshire in Level 3.

Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, Fife, the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross and Angus have entered Level 2.

Highland, Moray, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland have been assessed as Level 1.

Levels 1, 2 and 3 are broadly comparable to the tier system in England.

Despite ministers considering putting North and South Lanarkshire into Level 4 - equivalent to a full lockdown - First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Thursday no area will be placed into that highest tier at the moment.

She has told Scots not to travel to England unless it is for "essential purposes".

Northern Ireland

In Norther Ireland pubs and restaurants were closed for four weeks starting on October 16 with the exception of takeaways and deliveries while schools were shut for two weeks.

Retail outlets remain open, along with gyms for individual training.

People have been told they should work from home unless unable to do so, and have been urged not to take unnecessary journeys.