Schools will remain open with “childcare bubbles” still in place in the second national coronavirus lockdown, the Prime Minister has announced.
Boris Johnson said tonight that support bubbles and childcare will remain as they are now, as he addressed the nation from Downing Street, joined by Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance tonight.
Childcare bubbles allow informal childcare for kids under 14.
While support bubbles allow one one household of any size to ‘bubble up’ with a household that only has one adult in it.
Those two can then act as if they are in one household, as long as the arrangement is exclusive and they’re not in any other “bubbles”.
Will you struggle under a national lockdown? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk to tell your story
(Image: Getty Images)
The definition or rules for support bubbles will not change.
Playgrounds will also remain open, unlike in the first lockdown.
Under the terms of the new lockdown, you may only leave your home for specific reasons.
These will include for education, as schools and universities remain open.
If you cannot work from home, you can leave the house to go to work.
You are allowed to go outdoors for exercise and recreation, either with your own household or bubble, or on your own with one person from another household or bubble.
What is your view? Have your say in the comments section
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Unlike in the first lockdown, there will be no limit to the number of times a day you can exercise.
But gyms must shut.
You will be allowed to leave your home for medical reasons, appointments, or to escape injury or harm, including domestic abuse
Also to shop for food and essentials or to provide care for vulnerable people or as a volunteer.
Like in the first lockdown, any household social mixing between different households – indoors or outdoors – will be banned.
The exception to this is two people only from two households meeting in a public open space, as above. This exemption does not apply to private gardens.
Video Unavailable
People will also be allowed to sit down on the park, including for a picnic.
However, the rule of six no longer applies to outdoor gatherings – instead, people can only meet one person from one other household or bubble, and only if they’re on their own when they do so.
Places of worship will remain open for private prayer.
Non essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues will all be closed.
Pubs, bars and restaurants must also close, except for takeaway and delivery.
As per the previous lockdown, click and collect services can continue and essential shops, including for food, will remain open. Officials believe there is no need for stockpiling.
The definition of essential retail will be similar to the last lockdown.
Hairdressers will be closed.
Shielding will not resume under the new lockdown.
However, the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ – the more than 2million people who shielded last time – will be asked to minimise contact with others, and not go to work if they’re unable to work from home.
The ‘clinically vulnerable’, which includes all over-70s and people with conditions like diabetes and asthma, will be asked to be especially careful to follow the rules or minimise contacts with others.
People will be told to continue using the NHS for non-Covid health care.
Elite sport – including the Premier League – can continue because it has put Covid measures in place.
But amateur sport including Saturday leagues will be put on hold for the duration of the four-week lockdown.
It is thought golf clubs will need to shut.
The lockdown will begin at 12.01am on Thursday, November, 5, subject to Parliamentary approval.
It will end on Wednesday, December 2, when the government seek to ease the new restrictions on a local and regional basis, according to the latest data and trends at the time.
The key difference between the first and second lockdown is that this one has a set cut-off time.
The lockdown will be subject to a debate and a vote in the House of Commons. The vote is likely on Wednesday.
Boris Johnson is understood to want to return to the current three-tier system, or something close to it, from December 2 onwards.
-- to www.mirror.co.uk
