FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLDS
OFF: All gatherings of more than six people will be illegal, putting the traditional family Christmas at risk.
A family of five will be allowed to meet only one grandparent at a time, while families of six or more will be banned from meeting anyone.
It does not matter how many different households meet up, as long as they stick to the rule of six.
So six people from six different households can all get together, but two households of four cannot.
A family of five will be allowed to meet only one grandparent at a time, while families of six or more will be banned from meeting anyone (file image)
ON: The only exemption is if a household or a support bubble is made up of more than six people.
Support bubbles allow adults who live by themselves – as well as single parents – to join up with one other household.
SOCIALISING
OFF: All social gatherings of more than six – whether a book club, dinner party or picnic – are banned.
Police will have the power to break up bigger groups in parks, pubs and private homes.
An army of ‘Covid marshals’ will be recruited by councils to step up enforcement, patrolling town centres, parks, shopping centres and train stations and encouraging large groups to break up.
People in groups of seven or more face spot fines of £100, doubling with each repeat offence to a maximum of £3,200.
An army of ‘Covid marshals’ will be recruited by councils to step up enforcement, patrolling town centres, parks, shopping centres and train stations and encouraging large groups to break up (file image)
OFF: Pubs or restaurants cannot seat more than six people at one table. Hospitality venues can still accept more than six people in total, but each group must be separate and kept a safe distance apart.
So a group of eight friends, for example, can’t get round the restriction by booking two neighbouring tables of four.
And you cannot go to a pub in one group, then join another group. Venues face fines of £1,000 if they do not comply with the rules.
Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas must record names and contact details of all customers, visitors and staff for 21 days.
RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES
ON: Churches, synagogues, mosques and temples will remain open, although congregations will be required to stay at least a metre apart.
ON: Wedding ceremonies and receptions are exempt from the new rules, and up to 30 guests are allowed but they have to sit or stand a metre apart.
ON: Funerals are also exempt, with 30 people allowed.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools will remain open, as long as they are ‘Covid secure’ and enforce social distancing rules. Yoga or exercise classes with more than six people are allowed (file image)
SPORTS
ON: Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools will remain open, as long as they are ‘Covid secure’ and enforce social distancing rules. Yoga or exercise classes with more than six people are allowed.
ON: Grassroots sport is largely unaffected. Recreational sports, including five-a-side football, cricket, rugby and parkruns, can go ahead as long as they follow protocols. But teams of more than six can’t go for a post-match pint together.
ON: Professional sports and elite training can go ahead. Pilot events for reintroducing fans to stadiums can continue, but with a limit of 1,000 spectators.
SCHOOLS, CHILDCARE AND OFFICES
ON: Schools and universities are not affected by the new rules. But they must continue to operate under existing guidelines.
ON: Youth groups, registered childcare and playgroups are exempt from the rule of six.
Professional sports and elite training can go ahead. Pilot events for reintroducing fans to stadiums can continue, but with a limit of 1,000 spectators (file image)
OFF: The rules still apply outside these settings, so a group of ten school friends cannot go from the classroom to a park, or seven colleagues cannot go from the office to the pub.
PROTESTS
ON: Protests can go ahead in groups larger than six, as long as they are ‘Covid secure’.