National lockdown measures from 5 November

by | Nov 2, 2020 | Coronavirus Covid-19, national lockdown

national lockdown

National Lockdown measures from 5 November

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on the 31 October, the government has published further guidance on the national lockdown measures Boris Johnson outlined to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus.

These measures are expected to be in place from 5 November until at least the 2 December, and until they come into force, the existing Local Covid Alert Level (LCAL) measures apply.

From the 5 November until at least 2 December, the government:

Requires people to stay at home, and prevents gathering with people you do not live with, except for specific purposes

These include:

  • For childcare or education where it is not provided online
  • For work purposes, where your place of work remains open and you cannot work from home (including if your job involves working in other people’s homes)
  • To exercise outdoors or visit a public place with the people you live with or are in your support bubble, or if you are on your own, with one other person from another household.
  • For medical concerns or to escape risk of injury or harm
  • Shopping for basic necessities such as food or medicine, as infrequently as possible
  • To visit members of your support bubble or provide care for vulnerable people or as a volunteer

Closes certain businesses and venues

These include:

  • All non-essential retail, including but not limited to clothing and electronic 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, gyms, sports facilities, swimming pools, golf courses, driving ranges, dance studios, stables, riding centres, soft play facilities, climbing walls, climbing centres, archery and shooting ranges and water and theme parks
  • Entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums, galleries, casinos, adult gaming centres, arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, concert halls, zoos, botanical gardens
  • Personal care facilities such as hair, beauty and nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body & skin piercing services, non-medical acupuncture and tanning salons
  • Hospitality venues like restaurants, bars and pubs must close but can provide takeaway and delivery services. Takeaway of alcohol will not be permitted

Allows the following businesses to remain open:

  • Essential retail including food shops, supermarkets, garden centres and certain other retailers providing essential goods and services, following Covid secure guidelines
  • Non-essential retail can remain open for delivery to customers and click -and-collect
  • Playgrounds
  • Restaurants, bars and pubs can provide takeaway and delivery services, excluding the takeaway of alcohol
  • Hotels, hostels ad other accommodation can only open for those travelling for work purposes and for a limited number of exemptions to be set out in law.

The government guidance also gives more details on going to work, school, college or university, protecting those at more risk from coronavirus, travel and financial support. This information was last updated on the 1 November and released by the Cabinet Office. The measures are to be debated in the House of Commons today and further guidance is expected shortly.

Details of the extended support measures, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Local Restrictions Support Grants are available here.