A UK Government minister was unable to clarify whether new restrictions banning households in swathes of north-east England from meeting indoors applies to pub and restaurant gardens.
Labour said ministers "don't know what's going on" after Gillian Keegan said she did not fully understand the new rules, some 15 hours before they were to be imposed on Wednesday.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock had announced a tightening of measures for Northumberland, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham.
Aimed at stopping a resurgence of coronavirus, his department said laws would ban inter-household mixing indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.
But some questioned whether the measures, to be enforced with fines, would include meeting people from other homes outside in hospitality settings.
Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday, education minister Ms Keegan said: "I'm sorry I can't clarify that. I don't know the answer to that question but I'm sure they can find out the answer to that question."
Pressed on how people are meant to keep up to date with the latest restrictions when ministers cannot, she said: "I'm sorry I can't answer that question. I'm sure there are many people who could. I don't represent the north-east."
Labour quickly seized on the failure to clarify the confusion over the laws, set to be imposed after midnight on Wednesday.
Shadow health minister Alex Norris said: "It speaks volumes that even the Government's own ministers don't know what's going on. This will do little to inspire public confidence in the north-east and across the country. The Conservatives' incompetence is hampering our response to this pandemic."
