UK lockdown rules and restrictions explained

Boris Johnson announced a new national lockdown on Monday 4 January with emergency measures to control the rapid spread of coronavirus.

The lockdown will remain in place until at least the middle of February, with ministers keeping the measures under constant review, Mr Johnson said.

The new national lockdown goes further than the previous tier 4 restrictions and closer resembles the lockdown imposed last March than the second one in November.

Non-essential shops must close, household mixing is banned and people are only allowed leave their homes for a limited number of reasons, such as work, childcare and medical reasons – the same as tier 4 rules. But, crucially, schools are also closed, and exercise limited to once a day. 

People should only leave home to go to work if it is “impossible” for them to work from home, such as workers in the construction industry. They should only shop for necessities and outdoor exercise – which can include one other person sou– should ideally be limited to once a day.

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This is stricter than the tier 4 rules, which allowed people to do unlimited amounts of exercise outdoors. Outdoor sports venues such as tennis courts and golf courses must also close.

After teaching unions piled pressure on the government to keep schools closed due to the “serious risk” of staff falling ill while the rate of infection was so high, the government has announced that all primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in England must close and switch to remote learning except for vulnerable children and children of key workers.

Early years settings such as nurseries and childminders can remain open, and existing childcare bubbles can stay in place.

As for university students, they are not allowed to return to campus and will be expected to study remotely from their current residence. In-person university teaching will only take place for a small number of critical courses.

Places of worship can remain open but must adhere to social distancing rules.

Restaurants – most of which had to stay closed for dining for weeks under tiers 3 and 4 – are banned from offering takeaway or click and collect of alcoholic drinks. They can continue offering food delivery or takeaway.

Weddings and civil ceremonies can still take place, but only in “exceptional circumstances” and only six people will be allowed to attend. Funerals can still have a maximum of 30 guests, but wakes and other ceremonial events are restricted to six people.