New year, old rules
BORIS JOHNSON PUTS THE COUNTRY BACK INTO FULL LOCKDOWN AS THE STRUGGLE TO CONTAIN VARIANT STRAIN
ON Monday night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation in a sombre press conference to announce a third national lockdown in England, expected to last for six weeks.
A new variant of Covid-19 is rife, and daily cases of coronavirus have exceeded 50,000 for the seventh day running.
Once again, people across England are instructed to stay at home, only leaving their house for essential shopping, exercise and medical assistance.
“This new variant is between 50% and 70% more transmissible,” the Prime Minister said in his televised announcement.
“It is clear that we need to do more, together, to bring this new variant under control while our vaccines are rolled out.”
England will, therefore, go into a national lockdown that is tough enough to contain this new, more transmissible strain of coronavirus.
The restrictions are unlikely to be eased until around 13 million people aged over 70, or classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, have received the vaccine and been given enough time to be protected – a period of about two to three weeks after getting the jab.
Here are the details on Boris Johnson’s announcement, and what the new lockdown rules mean for people in England.
What does the lockdown mean?
You can only leave your home for a handful of reasons, the government website states :
■ Shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
■ Go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
■ Exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person – this should be limited to once per day and you should not travel outside your local area
■ Meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
■ Seek medical assistance, including getting a Covid-19 test
■ Avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
■ Attend education or childcare – for those eligible
Who can still go to school?
Primary schools, secondary schools and colleges will close for most pupils in England.
They will remain open only for vulnerable children, and the children of key workers.
For all other children, learning will take place remotely until February half-term.
University and higher education classes will remain online until midFebruary for “all except future critical worker courses,” the government website states.
Early years education services, such as nurseries, will remain open.
Meeting other people
Unlike in Tier 4 restrictions, in lockdown you will not be able to meet socially with anyone outside of your household or support bubble.
You may, however, exercise outdoors with one person not from your household or support bubble.
You should not meet other people you do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, unless for a permitted reason, and you should stay two metres apart from anyone not in your household.
Rules for sport and exercise
Outdoor gyms, tennis courts and golf courses must close and outdoor team sports will no longer be allowed. However, Premier League football and other elite sports will be allowed to continue, with testing regimes and bubbles in place.
You may leave your home to exercise once per day, but you must not travel outside your local area.
The government website states that you can exercise in a public outdoor space:
■ By yourself
■ With the people you live with
■ With your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one)
■ In a childcare bubble where providing childcare
■ With one person from another household, when on your own ‘Public outdoor places’ include:
■ Parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests
■ Public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)
■ The grounds of a heritage site ■ Playgrounds
Shopping and hospitality
Non-essential retail and hospitality, such as bars and restaurants, will close.
Takeaway services are still allowed, but alcohol cannot be served.
Theatres, cinemas and the like will also close, as will personal care such as hairdressers, and indoor attractions.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
Weddings must only take place with up to six people.
Funerals have a maximum attendance limit of 30 people.
Places of worship will remain open for services, but you cannot mingle with anyone outside your household or bubble.
The clinically vulnerable
Those who are clinically vulnerable are once again being asked to shield.
The Prime Minister said in his announcement that those affected will receive a letter to explain what this means.
When will the lockdown end?
The lockdown is expected to last until mid-February, though realistically they may be extended longer as vaccine rollouts continue.
“The weeks ahead will be the hardest yet, but I really do believe we are entering the last phase of the struggle,” the Prime Minister said.
“Not only is the end in sight, but we know exactly how we will get there.
“But I am afraid that, once again, we must stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.”