Police presence has already been increased as border checks are ramped up at ports and airports. People who do not have a valid reason for travelling will be told to return home, or they will face a fine.
Pre-departure testing of travellers inbound to England and Scotland will now take place, meaning that all passengers, excluding hauliers, will have to show they had tested negative for Covid up to 72 hours before arrival at a UK airport or port.
With these measures being imposed, it could mean that foreign holidays could be off for Britons until 2022.
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Bubbles
People may still form a childcare bubble, through which they can provide or receive childcare from one other household if they live with a child under 14.
Support bubbles also remain permissible. A person is eligible to form a support bubble if they live alone, if their household includes a child under the age of one, or if they are a single adult living with one or more children under the age of 18.
A support bubble may include a maximum of two households and should be “fixed”; people are advised against switching between different bubbles.
Amateur and professional sports
All amateur sports are currently banned, including outdoor games such as golf and tennis, as well as children’s sport.
However, unlike the first lockdown in March, outdoor playgrounds can remain open.
Elite sportspeople and their coaches, as well as parents of athletes aged under 18, are still permitted to gather in order to compete and train.
The government is being urged to minimise the lockdown damage on children’s health by drawing up early guidance for the return of extracurricular school sport and accelerate a recovery fund for community sport.
It is understood that golf and tennis will be the first amateur sports to return, provided that they are played with one other person. One senior source has said that “outdoor sports … is quite likely to relax in March”.
Read more: Will elite sport continue and what form of exercise and activities can we still do?
Fishing
Despite initial confusion, the Government has confirmed that fishing is allowed during the third lockdown.
The Government stated that fishing is permitted as a form of exercise and can therefore continue, following an urgent representation being made by the Angling Trust, after fishing was initially banned in England, but not in Wales or Scotland.
Both the Government and the Angling Trust have stressed that people must follow Covid rules, such as staying local, adhering to social distancing rules and limiting the amount of time spent outdoors. Overnight fishing and organised gatherings are not permitted under these rules.
Car garages
Under the latest government advice, car-related services such as vehicle repair and MOT garages are permitted to open. Fuel stations and automatic car washes can also open during lockdown, alongside vehicle hire and taxi services.
Covid regulations must remain in place at all the above. However, car showrooms must close.
Shielding
People deemed “clinically extremely vulnerable”, which means they are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus, have been ordered to shield once again. They should avoid the workplace or school, and should aim to visit shops or the pharmacy only at quieter times of day, or else ask friends, family or volunteers to collect supplies on their behalf.
A further 1.7 million people who are deemed to be at risk have been asked to shield as the vaccine is rolled out.
Worship, weddings and funerals
Communal and individual prayer will be permitted to continue, marking a change in strategy from the first lockdown. However, people will be required to observe social distancing rules and will be banned from attending services at churches and other places of worship with anyone outside of their household.
For weddings and civil ceremonies, only six people will be permitted to attend. Funerals can be attended by up to 30 people, although both are subject to strict social distancing rules.
Bereaved families could be asked to foot the bill for any fines if a funeral service is in breach of coronavirus restrictions, it has been reported.
The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) has told the BBC it is considering suggesting to its members that they ask families in some areas to guarantee to pay the cost of any potential fines.
It comes after a funeral director from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was fined £10,000 for holding a service with 150 attendees in breach of coronavirus restrictions.
Read more: What the latest lockdown restrictions mean for your wedding
— to www.telegraph.co.uk
