Boris Johnson has announced new measures to fight the coronavirus, with social gatherings of more than two people banned, and non-essential shops forced to close.
This partial lock down means that you can only leave your house under specific, limited circumstances.
This could be to buy groceries (as infrequently as possible), to exercise (only once a day), for a medical need, or to provide care or help to a vulnerable person.
Johnson also said that you can go to work if your job is "absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home".
Last week, the government identified a list of key workers, who are allowed to continue sending their children to school.
But who constitutes a key worker?
- Health and social care workers - including (but not limited to) doctors, nurses, midwives and paramedics, as well as those those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributors of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment
- Education and childcare - including teaching staff and social workers
- Key public services - including those involved in running the justice system, religious staff, charity workers, journalists and those responsible for managing the deceased
- Local and national government - this only includes those who are essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response, and those involved with key services, such as the payment of benefits
- Food and other necessary goods - those involved in the production, sale or distribution of food or hygiene products, or veterinary medicine
- Public safety and national security - this includes police and support staff, armed forces, certain Ministry of Defence employees, fire and rescue, prison and probation staff, National Crime Agency and border force
- Transport - those who keep the air, rail, water and road networks running, including those running transport networks for the supply chain of goods
- Utilities, financial and communication services - including (but not limited to) those who work in essential financial services, gas, electricity, water or sewerage, telecommunications (including 999 and 111 services), postal services and delivery, waste disposal, information technology and data infrastructure, civil nuclear or chemicals
If you are not sure whether you are classed as a 'key worker', you should contact your boss, or HR department at your place of work.
Even if you're a key worker, if it's possible for you to work from home you should do so.
You should only travel to work when it's your only option.
