Social gatherings of more than six to be illegal as coronavirus cases rise

Social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in Southport and across England from Monday (14 September) following a steep rise in coronavirus cases in recent days.

There will be some exemptions to the new rules. 

A law change will ban larger groups meeting anywhere socially indoors or outdoors, the Government said.

But it will not apply to schools, workplaces or Covid-secure weddings, funerals and organised team sports.

People who are caught breaking the new rules could be fined £100, which will double on each offence up to a maximum of £3,200.

Here in Sefton, there were 93 new cases of coronavirus diagnosed in the week between 30 August and 5 September, a rise of 56 from the previous week. 

That means a rate of 34 cases per 100,000 people in the latest week of available figures, 30 August to 5 September. The average area in England had 14.

Total cases in Sefton up to 8 September was 1,792 with 295 coronavirus-related deaths registered up to 28 August. 

Several exemptions apply to the new rules – which come into force on Monday 14 September – with households and support bubbles bigger than six people unaffected.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to give further details at a Downing Street news conference later today (Wednesday).

Previously, guidance in England allowed gatherings of up to six people from different households outdoors – or two households of any size, indoors or outdoors. But until now the police have had no powers to stop them unless they exceeded 30.

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