Covid: The new lockdown rules for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

What are Northern Ireland’s current rules?

Northern Ireland has extended its four weeks of restrictions by another week. Schools closed for a two-week extended half-term break but have now reopened.

Current measures include:

Pubs, bars and restaurants must close, except for takeaways and deliveries, which must stop by 23:00
Support bubbles will be limited to a maximum of 10 people from two households
You are not allowed to stay overnight in someone else’s home, unless they are part of your bubble
Close-contact services like hairdressers and beauticians must close, except for essential services
No indoor or contact sport allowed unless at elite level; gyms stay open for individual exercise only
No mass events of more than 15 people, apart from certain sporting events
Wedding ceremonies limited to 25 people, with no receptions
Funerals limited to 25 people, with no wakes allowed before or afterwards

Close-contact services including hair and beauty salons, as well as driving instructors, can reopen, by appointment
Hospitality will reopen on a “graduated basis”, with unlicensed premises such as cafes and coffee shops first
Restaurants, pubs and hotels can reopen on 27 November

What are the new rules in Wales?

Wales has completed its lockdown, in which people were told to stay at home, extended households were scrapped for most, and pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops were closed.

Under the new regulations:

Two households can form a bubble and will be able to meet in their own homes
Up to 15 people can meet for organised activities indoors, rising to 30 outdoors
All businesses that were required to close during the lockdown can reopen
There will be no travel restrictions within Wales, but you can only leave the country for essential purposes like work during the English lockdown

First Minister Mark Drakeford has urged people to reduce the number of people they see and the time spent with them, to reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus.

What are the rules for England’s new lockdown?

The current lockdown is due to last until 2 December.

Staying at home and seeing people

You should stay at home except for education, work (if it can’t be done from home), exercise, medical reasons, shopping for essentials, or to care for others
Households must not mix with others indoors, or in private gardens
You can meet one person from outside your household in an outdoors public space. Children under five don’t count
Support bubbles for people who live alone and single parent households can continue
Support groups of 15 or fewer people are allowed, including those for new parents or people recovering from addictions
Children can move between homes if parents are separated
Informal childcare support bubbles for children aged 13 or under can continue
It is possible to visit friends and family in care homes as long as Covid-secure measures are in place, such as the use of floor-to-ceiling screens, visiting pods, and arranging outdoor or window visits

Schools, nurseries, colleges and universities will remain open
Staff and pupils at secondary schools (Year 7 and above) must wear face coverings in communal areas outside the classroom
Childminders and nannies can continue to provide childcare, including in people’s homes
Students who live at university must not return to their permanent home until the end of term
Workplaces can stay open if people cannot work from home – including construction and manufacturing
Those who are clinically vulnerable are advised not to go to work if they can’t work from home

You can take outdoor exercise on your own, or with members of your household or support bubble, or with one other person from outside your household
As long as you follow the rules above, you can exercise outside as much as you want
Outdoor playgrounds can remain open
All leisure and sports centres and gyms, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, golf courses, fitness and dance studios, climbing walls, archery, driving, and shooting ranges must close
Elite sport can carry on behind closed doors
Grassroots team sports are not allowed

What about shops, pubs and other venues?

All pubs and restaurants must close (takeaways and deliveries can continue)
All non-essential shops must close (click-and-collect services and deliveries can continue)
All personal care facilities must close, including hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons, tattoo and massage parlours, and those offering body and skin piercing. Staff cannot offer these services in people’s homes
Supermarkets, food shops, off-licences, petrol stations and pharmacies can remain open
Bike shops, hardware stores, dry cleaners, banks, post offices, garden centres and pet shops can also remain open
Motorway services stations can remain open
Waste and recycling centres can remain open
Medical services can continue, including dentist and optician appointments
Libraries can remain open for click-and-collect services, and to allow IT access

What about worship, weddings and funerals?

Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies will not be allowed, apart from in exceptional circumstances
Funerals can be attended by a maximum of 30 people. Linked ceremonial events such as stone settings and ash scatterings can also continue with up to 15 people
Apart from funerals, places of worship will only be open to allow individual prayer or services to be broadcast to the congregation

You can still visit potential properties, purchase a new property and move into a new property during this time
You can stay in a hotel overnight if necessary
Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work
People outside your household or support bubble should not help with moving house unless it is absolutely essential, and you should wear a mask and maintain social distancing wherever possible

How does Scotland’s new five-tier system work?

Each area of Scotland has now moved into one of five levels:

Level zero – Almost like normal life. However, no area has been placed in this level.
Level one – In time, six people from two households can meet indoors. at this level, but that will not be permitted right now. Up to six people from two households can meet outdoors or at a pub or restaurant. Hospitality has a 22:30 GMT curfew.
Level two – No gatherings inside people’s homes, but up to six people from two households can meet outdoors or at a pub or restaurant. Most hospitality venues can open. Alcohol can be served indoors with a meal until 20:00 and outdoors until 22:30.
Level three – No indoor gatherings at home. Pubs and restaurants can open until 18:00 but alcohol cannot be served. Leisure and entertainment venues are closed. Non-essential travel in or out of the area advised against.
Level four – Closer to full lockdown. No area has been placed in this level.

More than half of Scotland’s 32 local authorities are under level three restrictions, including Edinburgh and Glasgow. All the rest are starting off on levels one or two.

Schools will stay open in all levels. The decision is based on factors including number of cases per 100,000 people, the ratio of positive test results, projections of new cases and the capacity of local hospitals and intensive care units.