What would a circuit break look like in practice?
A NATIONAL circuit-breaker lockdown was first proposed by the Sage advisory panel in a list of “non-pharmaceutical interventions” last month.
It recommended a “circuit breaker (short period of lockdown) to return incidence to low levels” on Sept 21.
The scientists added: “The more rapidly interventions are put in place, and the more stringent they are, the faster the reduction in incidence and prevalence, and the greater the reduction in Covid-related deaths.”
Personal freedoms
Sage recommended “banning all contact within the home with members of other households (except members of a support bubble)”.
Some of these measures were implemented in England by the three-tier strategy of local restrictions which came into force yesterday. In the “high” tier, only single household and support bubbles are allowed to mix indoors, while the rule of six applies outdoors.
In the “very high” tier, households are banned from mixing indoors and outdoors, or in pubs and bars. In parks and sports courts, the rule of six applies.
Northern Ireland restrictions due to start tomorrow allow only two households to form a social “bubble”.
Pubs and restaurants
Sage recommended the “closure of all bars, restaurants, cafes, indoor gyms and personal services (eg hairdressers)”.
However, the three tiers fall short of this, only requiring pubs and restaurants to close at 10pm in “medium” and “high” tiers. “Very high” tier, pubs and bars can only serve customers who buy a “substantial meal” with alcohol.
In Scotland, all pubs and bars are shut in Edinburgh and Glasgow and the areas around them until Oct 25, although they can still serve takeaways.
Northern Ireland has closed bars and restaurants for the next four weeks. Alcohol sales are banned from 8pm.
Schools and universities
Sage’s plan did not mention schools, suggesting scientists support the Prime Minister’s aim to keep them open.
However, they recommended that “all university and college teaching [should] be online unless face-to-face teaching is absolutely essential”.
Northern Ireland will tomorrow go much further, forcing schools to start half-terms a week early and keeping them closed from Oct 19 to Oct 30. Universities and colleges must “deliver distance learning to the maximum extent”.
Last night, The Guardian reported that English universities could be locked down for two weeks before Christmas, with all teaching online. The restrictions would apply from Dec 8 to Dec 22, after which students could return home.
Retail
It is unlikely that all retail will be forced to close in any initial circuit breaker.
In September, Sage said a limited lockdown, with shops open but hospitality closed, could save 4,300 lives. However, it recommended halting close contact services, such as hairdressing and beauty treatment.
Under the three tiers, retail broadly remains open across all levels. But on top of the “baseline” measures for tier three there are some additional measures listed such as shutting venues including betting shops and casinos.
In Northern Ireland’s four-week circuit breaker, most shops will stay open.
Sport
It is likely that professional and amateur sport will be impacted differently by any circuit breaker.
Northern Ireland will ban indoor sports from tomorrow with outdoor contact sports limited to elite athletes.
Under the rule of six, indoor team sports with more than six players have been banned since September.
Opinion seems to be split on whether to close gyms. They have been forced to close in Merseyside, as part of tier three restrictions. However, Northern Ireland gyms will stay open.
Work
For workplaces – including offices and building sites – Sage’s advice was “to work from home for all those that can”. This was adopted in England on Sept 21.
From Sept 28, the Government’s advice has been that “office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter”.
Northern Ireland’s circuit breaker applies the same advice. However, close contact services have been forced to stop, meaning hairdressers, beauticians and barbers will not be able to trade.
England could also stop close contact services as an additional measure on top of the third, highest tier of the new localised restrictions.
However, as it stands in Liverpool, personal care and close contact services such as hairdressers, beauty salons and barbers have been allowed to stay open.