What's still illegal from July 4 under coronavirus lockdown changes

Huge changes to the coronavirus lockdown in England take effect from Saturday 4 July.

Pubs, restaurants, hotels and hairdressers are allowed to reopen and people can gather in slightly larger groups.

For the first time, two households of any size will be able to gather inside – with social distancing.

Two households can also gather outside, on top of the rule that says up to six people from different households can meet.

The two-metre rule is cut to one metre plus mitigations like face coverings, where two metres can’t be maintained.

But there’s another more fundamental change too. For the first time since March, many of the laws that govern people’s behaviour are being wound down.

Instead of a law with £100 fines, many of the rules on public gatherings are now “guidance” – not a legal limit, but advised for your own good.

This means if you break the new, looser rules on public gatherings, police won’t be able to fine or arrest you – unless it’s a large or irresponsible group.

Boris Johnson’s spokesman said: “Neither the police nor the public want virtually every aspect of their behaviour to be subject to the criminal law.”

Of course that doesn’t mean you should break the rules.

The government insists it’s in everyone’s interests to follow the advice – even if it’s not technically a legal requirement.

And if people break the guidance there is the risk that a stricter lockdown will be imposed all over again.

But it’s still useful to know exactly what will be illegal in England after July 4. So here’s a quick guide.

You can’t go to a rave

Police will be given a new power to break up “large and irresponsible” gatherings of more than 30 people in England.

Until July 4, the law bans you from gathering in groups of more than six outdoors, or two indoors (with some exemptions). Offenders can be fined £100 or ordered to disperse. 

After July 4, that will be replaced with a simpler ban on gatherings of over 30 people in one place – though there will be an exemption for pubs and restaurants with a big indoor capacity.

No10 said it was intended to stop the “lockdown raves” that have erupted in recent weeks.

The PM’s spokesman said: “If you have a very big gathering taking place in a park or the sort of raves we have seen taking place in parts of the country in recent weeks, police would have the power to break those up.”

You have to quarantine if you go abroad – to some countries

Passengers arriving in the UK by plane, ferry or train – including UK nationals –  still need to quarantine for 14 days, but only from some countries.

While the policy is scheduled to be reviewed in the coming week, people still face fines of up to £1,000 if they fail to abide by the rules.

The countries that England has exempted from the quarantine rule are here

As for those not on the list?

It is likely not to be scrapped entirely beyond the return for quarantine-free ‘air bridges’ to the countries already exempted from the quarantine rules.

So while staycations will become a lot easier from July, foreign trips are still likely to be impractical for most.

You will still be required to provide an address where they will self-isolate for 14 days when you land in the UK.

You can be detained if you don’t comply with isolation orders

As lockdown eases, the test and trace system will become vital. It tells people to isolate for 14 days and get tested if they have symptoms, or come into contact with a confirmed case.

Under the Coronavirus Act which took force in March, police can force suspected Covid-19 sufferers to undergo a test – and arrest them and fine them £1,000 if they refuse.

Anyone deemed “potentially infectious” can be detained for up to 48 hours while they undergo screening.

If people are infectious, they can be quarantined for up to 28 days in two 14-day sections.

Public health officers can exercise further powers if they believe they are “necessary and proportionate” to stop the person infecting others.

This can include forcing people to remain in isolation, and restrictions on travel, activities and contact with other people.

You must wear a face covering on public transport

People in England can still be fined up to £80 if they don’t wear a face covering on public transport.

In fact with the new one meter plus mitigation rule, wearing a covering has become even more essential.

The Government has made it law to wear them on all trains, buses, trams, ferries and aircraft in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Covering the mouth and nose like this cuts the risk of asymptomatic carriers – people who are infected but showing no symptoms – from passing on the virus.

DIY face coverings can be used, even scarves or thin cloth masks.

British Transport Police can still fine those not wearing masks £80 on the spot.

You can’t go to any of these venues

The following venues remain closed after July 4 in England – though some like gyms could reopen a few weeks later.

They have been banned from reopening by law since March, and that seems unlikely to change.

And if you run a business, it must follow social distancing and safety rules

No10 said if businesses fail to follow health and safety regulations, councils will have powers to temporarily close them or impose unlimited fines.

There is also the possibility of jail sentences.

The government also has special powers under the Coronavirus Act to close down venues that host large gatherings.

But much enforcement of health and safety rules is also done by the Health and Safety Executive, and questions have been raised over the process.

Last month it emerged the HSE had paused proactive spot checks on firms for around two months due to the pandemic.