Strict lockdown measures will be introduced from Thursday 5th November, meaning local businesses including shops, pubs, leisure facilities and hairdressers will be forced to close for a second time.
Union Street in Bath back in May, during the first coronavirus lockdown | Photo © Nigel Jarvis / Shutterstock.com
The new restrictions, which will be in force until at least Wednesday 2nd December, will require people to stay at home, prevent gatherings with people you do not live with and close certain businesses and venues.
The second national lockdown is being introduced to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, as cases have been rising continually and have now reached a point that action needs to be taken to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed.
From Thursday 5th November, residents will be required to stay at home, with the following exceptions:
- For childcare or education, where this is not provided online
- For work purposes, where your place of work remains open and where you cannot work from home (including if your job involves working in other people’s homes)
- To exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place – with the people you live with, with your support bubble or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household.
- For any medical concerns, reasons, appointments and emergencies, or to avoid or escape risk of injury or harm – such as domestic abuse
- Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which should be as infrequent as possible
- To visit members of your support bubble or provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.
The public is being urged to limit the amount of time they spend outside their home, and when around other people should ensure they are two metres apart from anyone not in their household or support bubble.
People must not meet socially indoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household – meaning the people you live with – or support bubble.
A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household. Households in that support bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight, and visit outdoor public places together.
You can exercise or visit outdoor public places with the people you live with, your support bubble, or 1 person from another household.
Outdoor public places include:
- parks, beaches, countryside,
- public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them), allotments
- playgrounds
The restrictions mean people cannot meet in a private garden.
The Government has ordered certain businesses and venues to close.
These include:
- All non-essential retail, including, but not limited to clothing and electronics stores, vehicle showrooms, travel agents, betting shops, auction houses, tailors, car washes, tobacco and vape shops.
- Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, leisure centres and gyms, sports facilities including swimming pools, golf courses and driving ranges, dance studios, stables and riding centres, soft play facilities, climbing walls and climbing centres, archery and shooting ranges, water and theme parks.
- Entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, adult gaming centres and arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, concert halls, zoos and other animal attractions, botanical gardens.
- Personal care facilities such as hair, beauty and nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services, non-medical acupuncture, and tanning salons.
Food shops, supermarkets, garden centres and certain other retailers providing essential goods and services are allowed to remain open.
Non-essential retail can remain open for delivery to customers and click-and-collect services.
Hospitality venues like restaurants, bars and pubs must close, but can still provide takeaway and delivery services. However, takeaway of alcohol will not be allowed.
Hotels, hostels and other accommodation should only open for those who have to travel for work purposes and for a limited number of other exemptions.
A full list of the business closures and any exemptions will be published and set out in law later this week.
