What does lockdown mean in practice?

Adele Merson explains what the government’s lockdown means in practice.

The government has stressed that the single most important action we can all take, in fighting the virus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

Under the new rules announced on Monday, when can you leave the house?

The government is asking the public to reduce day-to-day contact with other people to reduce the spread of the infection. This requires people to stay at home, except for limited purposes:

• Shopping for basic necessities: for example food and medicine. Trips must be as infrequent as possible.

• One form of exercise a day: for example a run, walk or cycle – alone or with members of the same household.

• Any medical need, such as visiting a doctor or hospital, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.

• Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.

What shops and public spaces have closed?

Last week, the government ordered certain businesses, including pubs, cinemas and theatres, to close.

These restrictions have been extended to all non-essential businesses and other venues, including:

• All non-essential retail stores: clothing and electronics, hair, beauty and nail salons; and outdoor and indoor markets, excluding food markets

• Libraries, community centres and youth centres

• Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, such as bowling alleys, arcades and soft play facilities

• Communal places within parks, such as playgrounds, sports courts and outdoor gyms.

• Places of worship, except for funerals by immediate families.

• Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks and boarding houses for commercial/leisure use (excluding permanent residents and key workers).

What shops and public spaces will remain open?

Shops permitted to stay open include supermarkets and other food shops, health shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, bicycle shops, home and hardware shops, launderettes and dry cleaners, garages, car rentals, pet shops, corner shops, newsagents, post offices and banks.

Parks will remain open for exercise, but playgrounds and outdoor gym spaces will be closed.

Who can travel to work?

The prime minister said people can travel to work “only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home”.

It means that some people who are not classed as key workers are still using public transport and travelling to get to their jobs.

Answering questions on unclear advice for the construction industry, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said all major construction work should go ahead but jobs carried out at close quarters in someone’s home would not be appropriate.

Last week, the government issued a list of key workers to establish whose children can still go to school after the closures. This list includes: doctors, nurses, supermarket staff delivery drivers and some teachers as well as people in some public and government work and financial services.

Can children of divorced parents travel to see both of them?

Children under the age of 18 who live with separated parents will be able to travel to see both of them.

Will bin collections still take place?

Dundee City Council could suspend waste collections at short notice as they deal with the growing impact of the coronavirus.

• Special collection bulky services have been temporarily suspended to allow other services to be prioritised.

• Angus bin collections still operating but recycling centres have been closed. Fife

• All bin collections are operating as normal, with bins to be put out at 6am on the day of collection.

• All recycling centres are closed following the government announcement that the public should stay at home.

• Bulky waste uplifts are suspended until further notice.

What to do with your rubbish if you have Covid-19 symptoms?

All contaminated waste (for example tissues, cleaning cloths, wipes and masks) must be double-bagged and both bags used tied. Double-bagged waste must be kept for 72 hours in a place that can’t be accessed by other people or pets, before putting the double-bagged waste in your nonrecyclable waste bin. The bins can be put out for collection as normal.

How long will these measures last?

The measures are effective immediately and will last for at least three weeks.

They will then be reviewed and relaxed if the government thinks it is possible and safe to do so.

The prime minister said “police will have the powers to enforce” the rules, and can issue £30 fines and dispersal orders.