From the BBC:
“Covid rules: What are the new
coronavirus restrictions?”
A series of new restrictions to try
to stop the spread of coronavirus in England have been announced by Prime
Minister Boris Johnson. And extra measures, including a ban on visiting other
people's homes, will be imposed across Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
said.
What are the latest changes in
England? Boris Johnson said the new measures would probably stay in place
for the next six months. Pubs, bars and restaurants to close at 22:00
BST. They will also be restricted to table service only. People
should work from home wherever possible. Face masks compulsory for bar
staff and non-seated customers, shop workers and waiters. Limit on
guests at weddings reduced from 30 to 15. Plans to allow fans to return
to sporting events paused. "Rule of six" now applies to indoor
team sports. Fines for not wearing masks or following rules increased to
£200 for first offence
What are the rules for pubs
and restaurants? From Thursday 24 September, all pubs, bars, cafes
and restaurants in England are to shut no later than 22:00 BST each evening.
They will be restricted by law to table service only, except for takeaways.
Table bookings of more than six are not allowed and groups can't mingle. Businesses
are legally required to take customers' contact details so they can be traced
if there is an outbreak. They can be fined up to £10,000 if they take
reservations of more than six, do not enforce social distancing, or do not take
customers' contact details. Staff in hospitality venues must now wear
masks, as must customers when not seated at their table to eat or drink. The
penalty for not wearing one, or breaking the ''rule of six'' has doubled to
£200 for a first offence.
Should I work from home or the
office? Cabinet Minister Michael Gove told the BBC, "If you are in a
Covid-secure workplace, then you should be there if your job requires it."
However, he said that otherwise, people should work at home. This is a
change in advice from the government. In July, the prime minister said people
should "start to go back to work now if you can" and last month a
campaign was launched to encourage people back to the workplace. The
Office for National Statistics said on 17 September that 62% of adult workers
were now commuting to their workplace, up from 36% in May.
What are the rules for
weddings and sports? From Monday 28 September, only 15 people will be able
to attend weddings or civil partnerships, in groups of six. Funerals will be
able to take place with up to 30 people attending. Also from that date,
adults will only be able to play organised indoor sports in groups of six or
fewer. Children's sports remain exempt (as do disability sports). It will still
be possible for larger groups to take part in organised (team) sports outdoors,
but not on an informal basis. Plans to allow spectators back to sporting
events have been put on pause.
What are the new restrictions
in Scotland? First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that from Friday, Scotland
will impose a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants. She also announced a
ban on meeting inside other people's homes. Up to six people from two
different households can meet outdoors, including in private gardens. However,
there will be no limit on the number of children under 12 who can meet or play
together outdoors. Young people aged 12 to 18 are exempt from the
two-household limit and can meet outdoors in groups of up to six. Ms
Sturgeon raised the possibility of a two-week "circuit breaker" with
further restrictions for Scotland in October, although she said no decision had
been made. She urged people not to book foreign trips during the October
holiday.
What is different in Wales? First
Minister Mark Drakeford has said pubs, cafes and restaurants in Wales will have
to stop serving alcohol at 22:00 from 24 September. Pubs will be required to
provide table service only. Sales of alcohol from off-licences and
supermarkets after 22:00 will also be stopped. Mr Drakeford said people
on low incomes will be offered £500 when they are forced to self-isolate.
What are Northern Ireland's
new meeting up rules? People in Northern Ireland can no longer meet anyone
who they don't live with inside their home. There are only limited
exceptions. However, about 600 pubs which only serve drink have been
told they can reopen from Wednesday, with social restrictions but - as yet - no
early closing time.
Where are there local
restrictions? Even before the latest national restrictions, about 13.9
million people in the UK - equivalent to one in five - have been living under
local restrictions. The nature and extent of these restrictions have varied
from place to place, but many already include early closing times for pubs and
a ban on socialising with people from other households.
Why are the restrictions being
introduced now? Deaths from Covid-19 remain low - accounting for only 1% of
deaths in England and Wales in the week to 11 September. But deaths are
rising rather than falling for the first time since the beginning of April. And
there are fears that rising numbers of patients in hospital will lead to more
fatalities. The government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick
Vallance, has warned there could be 50,000 new coronavirus cases a day by
mid-October - leading to more than 200 deaths per day by mid-November - unless
action is taken.
^ The UK has gone back and forth
with all these strict restrictions. Only a few more months until they also have
to deal with Brexit. ^
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