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Coronavirus lockdown in the UK: Here's a guide to what you can (and can't) do
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Published at 9:13pm 23rd March 2020. (Updated at 11:14pm 23rd March 2020)
Boris Johnson has announced a series of wide-ranging measures to tackle the UK's coronavirus outbreak.
The headline from Mr Johnson's address to the nation is simple.
Britons must stay at home and only leave the house under a small number of circumstances in order to help in the fight against COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
So when can I leave the house?
Effective immediately, the government says you can go outside only for "very limited purposes":
- Shopping for basics necessities like food and medicine, with Downing Street saying you should do this "as infrequently as possible" and use food delivery services "where you can"
- One form of exercise a day, such as a run, walk or cycle. This can be done alone or with members of your household
- Any medical need, to give care or to help a vulnerable person
- Travelling to and from work, but only if this is "absolutely necessary" and cannot be done from home
"These four reasons are exceptions," the government's latest guidance says.
"Even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2m (6.5ft) apart from anyone outside of your household."
If you work in what the government has deemed a "critical sector", or your child has been identified as vulnerable, you can still take your children to school.
What about seeing friends and family?
If your friends ask to meet you, you should say no.
You should also not be meeting members of your family who do not live in your home.
What else did the PM announce?
All shops selling "non-essential" goods will be closed, as will a range of public spaces and venues.
This covers:
- Stores selling clothing and electronics
- Hair, beauty and nail salons
- Libraries, community centres and youth centres
- Playgrounds, outdoor gyms and sports courts
- Places of worship
- Outdoor and indoor markets, excluding food markets
- Bowling alleys, arcades and soft play facilities
- Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses for commercial/leisure use. This excludes permanent residents and key workers
Public gatherings of more than two people are also banned.
There are two exceptions to this, according to the government's guidance:
- Where the gathering is of a group of people who live together. For example, this means a parent can take their children to the shops if there is no option to leave them at home
- Where it is essential for work purposes. The guidance states that workers should try to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace
All social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, are also banned - but funerals can go ahead with immediate members of family in attendance.
Parks will stay open for exercise, but gatherings there will be dispersed.
How will the government enforce this?
Police will have powers to disperse gatherings, while anyone who is found not to be following the rules could be fined.
How long will these restrictions last for?
The PM said the restrictions will be "kept under constant review" and last for a minimum of three weeks.
At that point, the government will examine the evidence and see if they can be relaxed.
