UK in COVID-19 lockdown: What are the restrictions?

LONDON: The entire 67 million population of the United Kingdom is living under some sort of COVID-19 restrictions, though the severity of the rules varies.

Following are details on the measures in place in different parts of the UK:

ENGLAND

Entire population of 56 million under varying degree of restrictions in a three-tier system.

LEVEL 3- “VERY HIGH” – Around 7 million people

Household mixing banned. Pubs and bars close. Wedding receptions not permitted. Travel to or from the area should be avoided.

Liverpool City Region – 1.5 million

Lancashire – 1.2 million

From Oct. 23

Greater Manchester – 2.8 million

From Oct. 24

South Yorkshire, including Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster – 1.4 million

LEVEL 2 – “HIGH” – Around 18.44 million people

People must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place. Pubs and restaurants to shut at 10 p.m.

London (all 32 boroughs and the City of London) – 9 million

Essex – 1.84 million

Cheshire – 0.9 million

North East England – 2.6 million

Leeds and other parts of West Yorkshire – 2.5 million

York – 0.2 million

Birmingham and other parts of West Midlands – 2.24 million

Leicester – 0.4 million

Nottingham, Peak District and surrounding areas 1.36 million

LEVEL 1 – “MEDIUM” – The rest of England

Gatherings of more than six people banned, apart from some settings such as funerals and weddings. Pubs and restaurants to shut at 10 p.m.

SCOTLAND – 5.5 million

NATIONWIDE

Limit of a maximum of six people from two households meeting; takeaways from pubs and restaurants allowed; accommodation may serve evening meals but no alcohol; weddings and funerals can continue, with alcohol served and a limit of 20 people; shops must reintroduce mitigations and 2 metre distancing with one-way systems.

CENTRAL BELT – around 3.4 million people

Pubs closed (except takeaways); cafes must shut at 6 p.m.; no group exercise classes or amateur sports practice; bowling alleys, casinos, pool and bingo halls all closed.

Covers Ayrshire & Arran; Forth Valley; Greater Glasgow & Clyde; Lanarkshire; Lothian (including Edinburgh

REST OF SCOTLAND – around 2.1 million people

Indoor hospitality must close at 6 p.m., with no sale of alcohol allowed; Outdoor premises can stay open until 10 p.m., including alcohol sales where licensed.

WALES: 3.15 million

Local restrictions already in force across the country.

– Wales will impose a two-week “fire-break” lockdown from Friday in which everybody apart from essential workers must stay at home, except for very limited purposes, such as for exercise.

NORTHERN IRELAND – 1.9 million

Northern Ireland has closed schools for two weeks and restaurants for four weeks. Neighbouring Ireland has responded by tightening curbs in bordering counties.

The closure will affect the entire hospitality sector, except takeaway and delivery services, and double the length of the October school break from one week to two.

Retail will remain open, but “close contact services” such as hairdressers and beauticians will be closed.