These are the new rules that Southport people now face which were revealed by the Prime Minister earlier today.
Boris Johnson set out a series of measures which he expects to be in place across England for the next six months, as the Government tries to combat a recent surge in Covid-19 cases.
Mr Johnson will make a public statement on his plans live at 8pm tonight.
The new measures include:
1 – The Government is once again asking office workers who can work from home to do so.
2 – In key public services – and in all professions where homeworking is not possible, such as construction or retail – people should continue to attend their workplaces.
3 – From Thursday (September 24) all pubs, bars and restaurants must operate table-service only, except for takeaways.
4 – All pubs, bars and restaurants, together with all hospitality venues, must close at 10pm.
5 – The same will apply to takeaways – although deliveries can continue thereafter.
6 – The Government will extend the requirement to wear face coverings to include staff in retail,
all users of taxis and private hire vehicles, and staff and customers in indoor hospitality, except when seated at a table to eat or drink.
7 – In retail, leisure, tourism and other sectors, our Covid-secure guidelines will become legal obligations.
Businesses will be fined and could be closed if they breach these rules.
8 – The Government is tightening up the rule of six.
From Monday, a maximum of 15 people will be able to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Up to 30 people can still attend a funeral as they can now.
9 – The rule of six will be extended to all adult indoor team sports.
10 – The spread of the virus is now affecting the ability to reopen business conferences, exhibitions and large sporting events so the Government will not be able to do this from 1 October.
The Chancellor and Culture Secretary are working urgently on what we can do now to support sports clubs affected.
“These rules measures will only work if people comply.
11 – The penalty for failing to wear a mask or breaking the rule of six will now double to £200 for a first offence.
The Government will provide the police and local councils with the extra funding they need,
a greater police presence on our streets, and the option to draw on military support where required to free up the police.
12 – Following advice from our senior clinicians, the Government’s guidance continues to be that people who were previously shielding in the March lockdown do not now need to shield – except in local lockdown areas – and Ministers will keep this under constant review.
Boris Johnson said: “I must emphasise that if all our actions fail to bring the R below 1, then we reserve the right to deploy greater firepower, with significantly greater restrictions.
“I fervently want to avoid taking this step, but we will only be able to avoid it if our new measures work and our behaviour changes.
“We will spare no effort in developing vaccines, treatments and new forms of mass-testing
but unless we palpably make progress, we should assume that the restrictions I have announced will remain in place for perhaps six months.
“For the time being, this virus is a fact of our lives and our fight against it will continue.”
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