The government guidance on coronavirus is constantly being reviewed and updated.
Measures are in place across the UK to help curb the spread of the deadly virus while local lockdown restrictions have also been imposed.
Greater Manchester has been under a local lockdown since the end of July, however the rules and areas it applies to has changed frequently.
Residents in Bolton still face tighter restrictions than the other nine boroughs after pubs and restaurants were ordered to close.
But people in local lockdown areas still have to follow the rules in place for the rest of the country.
New fines of up to £10,000 were introduced in September for those who fail to self-isolate while a new ‘rule of six’ was also introduced that prohibits gatherings of more than six people.
A 10pm curfew for hospitality businesses was also put in place from September 24.
Despite new measures, every Greater Manchester borough remains on ‘red alert’.
The total number of coronavirus cases recorded in Greater Manchester in the week ending September 26 were 4,691. This is up 845 week-on-week.
Below are the latest infection rates for the region. The infection rate is the total number of cases per 100,000 population.
This is all the government guidance residents must follow:
Rules in England
The Prime Minister addressed the nation on Tuesday, September 22 to update on the latest government guidance. He said restrictions were likely to remain in place for the next six months.
When meeting with people you don’t live with, you can socialise in groups of up to six – ‘rule of six’.
The six person limit applies both indoors and outdoors, and includes indoor sports. Outdoor sports can include more participants but only where the event is organised. Plans to allow fans to return to sporting events have been put on hold.
The government states people should continue to maintain social distancing with anyone they do not live with.
The government also advises against sharing a vehicle with those outside your household or social bubble, but there are no current restrictions on how far people can travel.
Customers in private hire vehicles and taxis, as well as staff working on public transport and taxi drivers, must wear face coverings.
Face coverings must be worn in enclosed public spaces – such as supermarkets – except for those exempt.
Office workers who can work effectively from home are being advised to do so over the winter.
Pubs, bars and restaurants are no longer allowed to open beyond 10pm and are restricted to table service only, apart from takeaways. This also includes social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades (and other indoor leisure centres or facilities), funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. This will include takeaways but delivery services can continue after 10pm.
Hospitality venues must take reasonable steps to ensure that customers only consume food and drink while seated and, if the business serves alcohol for consumption on the premises, it must also only take orders for food and drink from customers who are seated.
Businesses who break COVID-19 restrictions face fines of up to £10,000.
Leisure, entertainment and tourism businesses such as casinos and bingo halls are also subject to a 10pm curfew, although theatres and cinemas are exempt if their performances run past 10pm.
Businesses must take customers’ contact details so they can be traced if there is an outbreak. They can be fined up to £10,000 if they take reservations of more than six, do not enforce social distancing, or do not take customers’ contact details.
Face masks are now mandatory for bar staff and non seated customers, shops workers and waiting staff. You can be fined £200 for not wearing a mask or complying with restrictions.
A maximum of 15 guests are allowed to attend a wedding – but 30 people can still attend a funeral.
A maximum of six people, including the baby, can attend christenings.
It is now a legal duty in England for a person to self-isolate if they test positive for Covid or are contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service. For those that fail to do so, they risk being hit with new fines starting at £1,000 and increasing up to £10,000 for repeat offenders or serious breaches.
Local lockdown rules in Bolton
(Image: Getty Images)
Bolton has a slightly different set of restrictions compared to the rest of Greater Manchester. As well as the rules in place for England, people also need to abide by the following:
These businesses and venues must not open in Bolton:
casinos
indoor skating rinks
bowling alleys
indoor play areas, including soft play areas
exhibition halls and conference centres for external attendees
Hospitality venues must only provide takeaway food and drinks or delivery services to customers.
If you live in Bolton, you must not:
- host people you do not live with in your home or garden, unless they’re in your support or childcare bubble
- meet people you do not live with in their home or garden, whether inside or outside the affected local areas, unless they’re in your support or childcare bubble
A childcare bubble is permitted where someone in one household can provide informal (i.e. unpaid and unregistered) childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household. This must occur on an exclusive basis – always the same two households.
People can still come inside your home or garden for specific purposes set out in law such as for work purposes.
The government also advises that residents should only travel for essential reasons when travelling into, within and out of Bolton.
Local lockdown rules in Bury, Oldham, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan
(Image: Leicester Mercury / Chris Gordon)
As of Saturday, September 26, Wigan and Stockport now follow the same rules as the rest of the seven Greater Manchester boroughs – excluding Bolton where there are tougher restrictions.
All nine boroughs follow the same local measures however in Oldham, the government advises that you should only use public transport for essential reasons.
The boroughs also follow the rules in place for England, outlined above.
In the above nine Greater Manchester boroughs, in order to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, you must not:
- host people you do not live with in your home or garden, unless they’re in your support or childcare bubble
- meet people you do not live with in their home or garden, whether inside or outside the affected local areas, unless they’re in your support or childcare bubble
A childcare bubble is permitted where someone in one household can provide informal (i.e. unpaid and unregistered) childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household. This must occur on an exclusive basis – always the same two households.
People can still come inside your home or garden for specific purposes set out in law such as for work purposes.
The government also advises that you should not:
- socialise with people you do not live with, unless they’re in your support bubble, in any public venue. This applies to inside and outside of the affected areas. Examples of public venues include pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions and parks
- visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should restrict visits to these circumstances
You can travel outside your area. However, you must not meet people you do not live with in their home or garden, whether inside or outside of your area, unless they’re in your support bubble.
You can still go on holiday outside of your area, but you should only do this with people you live with (or have formed a support bubble with).
-- to www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
