Coronavirus rules: What can do you under new restrictions?

The government tightened coronavirus restrictions at the end of September in an attempt to fight off a second wave of the deadly disease. 

As a result of the measures which Boris Johnson announced in parliament on 22 September, pubs and other hospitality venues now have a 10pm curfew each night, while office workers are encouraged, once again, to work from home. 

The changes came after a top scientist warned that the UK could face 50,000 cases a day by October without action.

Scotland and Wales have gone further than England by banning different households from mixing inside private homes.

In England, the “rule of six” prevents more than six people from from multiple households from gathering at any one time. It applies to meetings both indoors and outdoors.

Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues all fall under the rule.

In Scotland, indoor social visits to other households are now banned.  A maximum of six people from two households can meet in outdoor spaces and indoor hospitality venues. Under-12s are not included in this limit.

In Wales, more than six people from multiple households are not allowed to meet in private homes. Children aged 11 and under are exempted from the rule. Gatherings of up to 30 people are still allowed to meet outdoors.

Northern Ireland has extended a ban on household mixing in indoor spaces across the country.

The government has published a list of environments where people would be exempt from the rule in England, these include:  

Office employees who can work from home are now advised to do so over winter. 

Those who cannot do so should go to their place of work, and extra care should be taken to avoid risk of transmission in the workplace, closely following government guidelines. 

Face coverings are mandatory on public transport, and in shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, banks and post offices. They are also now compulsory in cinemas, museums and places of worship.

Customers are required to wear face masks in hospitality venues, except when seated at a table to eat or drink. Retail and hospitality staff must also wear face coverings.

Taxi customers are also now required to wear face coverings, while drivers continue to be advised to do so.

It is a legal requirement that face coverings and visors are worn in close contact services, including hairdressers. 

If you have a legitimate reason not to wear one, such as a physical or mental illness, it is not necessary in law to carry evidence of your condition.

Places of worship can still have as many people in them as is safe.

People can only attend in groups of six and they are encouraged not to mingle with other worshippers.

Worshippers should wear face coverings and provide contact details to the organiser for test and trace.

Pubs, bars and restaurants are required to shut every night at 10pm.

Customers must not go to  the bar to order — venues should be table service only in an attempt to stop people coming into close contact with each other. 

Customers can only gather in groups of six from multiple households. The advice suggests there is to be no mixing between groups — even if it is someone you know.

Police are allowed to fine people £200, doubling for each offence up to £6,400, for breaking the rules.

Anyone organising a house party or rave of more than 30 could face a £10,000 fine.

Boris Johnson has also warned people may be arrested if they repeatedly break the rules.

Businesses have to display the official NHS QR code posters so that customers can ‘check-in’. 

A team of Covid marshalls has also been assembled to carry out spot checks on businesses, and those found to be repeatedly breaching the rules could be fined up to £10,000.

In England, people are told to stay 2m apart, dropping to “1m plus” when social distancing isn’t possible. People should take extra precautions when 2m isn’t possible — such as wearing a mask.

In Scotland, the rule is 2m, though children aged 11 and under do not have to socially distance.

In Wales, people are told to exercise their discretion when 2m isn’t possible.

The rule is 2m in Northern Ireland.

Holidaymakers are urged to avoid travelling to countries not on the government’s safe travel list.

Travellers returning to the UK from a country not on the list have to quarantine for 14 days in their home.

The new measures give the Border Force the power to “step up” enforcement at the border.

Fans are unlikely to be returning to stadiums any time soon, as the return of sports events, which had been scheduled for the start of October, was paused.

The symptoms of coronavirus are a new continuous cough, high temperature and loss of sense of taste and smell.  

People who show symptoms should self-isolate for 10 days and get tested.

If the result is positive, you should continue your 10 days of self-isolation.  

Anyone you live with should isolate for 14 days as soon as you start showing coronavirus symptoms.