Boris Johnson has today (Sept 22) announced in the Commons that new lockdown restrictions will come into place on Thursday.
The new restrictions include a curfew that means bars, restaurants and pubs will have to remain closed between 10pm and 5am, as was seen in local lockdowns across the country.
Staff in retail settings will also be made to wear PPE in order to protect members of the public, as well as it being law to wear a mask while waiting to be seated in restaurants.
Restrictions are also coming into place for ceremonies, there is a maximum of 15 people now allowed at a wedding and 30 at a funeral.
Fines have also been doubled to £200 for those breaking the rule of 6 for the first time.
The Government reserves the right to put more restrictions in place if these restrictions aren’t enough to reduce the R rate.
The Government’s rule of six will remain in place in these establishments, and this morning Michael Gove did confirm that there would be no issue in leaving the pub at 10pm and continuing to socialising with friends or family at a household as long as no more than 6 are in attendance.
The new rules come after Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance outlined the rise in cases across the UK and warned that if this trend continues, the UK could see 200 deaths per day by the end of October.
