The government has issued more details on local lockdown measures set to be introduced at midnight in areas including Greater Manchester following widespread confusion.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Thursday evening (July 30) that the region - along with parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire - would face new restrictions from midnight following an 'increasing rate of transmission'.
The areas the changes apply to are:
- Greater Manchester
- Pendle
- Hyndburn
- Burnley
- Rossendale
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Bradford
- Calderdale
- Kirklees
- Leicester city
The government has now published more details, clearing up some of the confusion.
People in the affected areas will not be permitted to mix with other households - apart from those in their support bubbles - in private homes OR gardens.
Some exemptions will be put in place, including for the vulnerable.
Households can go to restaurants, bars and pubs, but 'new guidance will make clear that two households should not visit venues together'. People can visit venues in their support bubbles.
The government will sign new regulations to make these changes legally enforceable.
The regulations will give councils and police forces the powers to enforce restrictions. More details are expected soon.
There are also new restrictions on social gatherings for selected areas.
"For those preparing to celebrate Eid Al Adha this weekend with friends and family, the restrictions will come as a blow, but everyone is being urged to follow the new rules and to protect the ones they love from catching coronavirus," the Department of Health and Social Care said.
"Mosques and other places of worship have reopened for prayer and communal worship, but in a different socially distanced and COVID-19 Secure way. This means that while mosques can remain open, many will not able to welcome as many worshippers as before.
"Anyone with any symptoms must isolate immediately and get a test for free by going online or ringing 119. Everyone must continue to socially distance and regularly their wash hands to help bring this virus down further so all areas of Leicester can return to normal as soon as possible."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “We're constantly looking at the latest data on the spread of coronavirus, and unfortunately we've seen an increasing rate of transmission in parts of Northern England.
“We've been working with local leaders across the region, and today I chaired a meeting of the Local Action Gold Committee. Based on the data, we decided that in Greater Manchester, parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire we need to take immediate action to keep people safe.
“The spread is largely due to households meeting and not abiding to social distancing. So from midnight tonight, people from different households will not be allowed to meet each other indoors in these areas."
