Strict rules that limit households’ socialising

THE clampdown across the North of England will affect around four million people – but what are the new rules?

Firstly, they apply to Greater Manchester, parts of east Lancashire including Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale.

The Department of Health and Social Care guidance also applies across the Pennines in West Yorkshire to Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.

However, six other “areas of concern” across the North and the Midlands could also face being treated like Leicester, which saw the first so-called “local lockdown” imposed on June 29.

HOMES: From July 31 people from separate households or support bubbles cannot mix with each other in their homes or gardens, or in pubs and restaurants.

Two households can meet “at a social distance in a public place outdoors” such as a park, where there is lots of space but not in people’s gardens.

‘The rules are needed because of households not abiding by the social distancing rules’

SOCIALISING: In venues, households must stay within their group.

COMMUTING: Health Secretary Matt Hancock said people can still travel “for work purposes”.

VISITING: It will be illegal for people from outside the “lockdown area” to visit the homes of those inside.

WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS: These are valid reasons to travel into and outside the lockdown areas.

HOLIDAYS: You can still visit lockdown areas but “must avoid socialising with people indoors when doing so”.

CARE HOMES: Relatives and friends should not visit them in affected areas except “in exceptional circumstances”.

PLACES OF WORSHIP: You must socially distanced from those outside your household. Muslims celebrating Eid were told not to host or visit friends and family at home.

Mr Hancock said the measures were due to a rising rate of transmission in parts of northern England because of “households gathering and not abiding by the social distancing rules”. The rules will be “legally enforceable”.

Meanwhile, Public Health England said it has a “watchlist” of “areas of concern”. Both Eden in Cumbria and Sandwell in the West Midlands have higher infection rates than Manchester with around 2.8 people infected last week for every 10,000 of population. Northampton, Peterborough, Rotherham and Wakefield have also been flagged but have falling infection levels.