Coronavirus UK Lockdown: Who must stay at home and why?

Boris Johnson last night imposed an unprecedented virus lockdown and told everyone in the UK they ‘must stay at home’ to slow the spread of coronavirus as he set out just four instances when people can go outside.

Describing the crisis as a national emergency, he ordered families to stay in their homes except in special circumstances.

All ‘non-essential’ shops will be closed and public gatherings of more than two people banned. 

Mr Johnson said the measures will be ‘under constant review’ and will be considered for relaxation in three weeks’ time if the evidence allows.

He said that ‘no prime minister wants to enact measures like this’ as he reminded the public of the support programme to aid ailing businesses and struggling individuals.

But he said the drastic new measures allowing people to only leave home for the ‘very limited purposes’ were necessary to slow the spread of the disease.

‘To put it simply, if too many people become seriously unwell at one time, the NHS will be unable to handle it – meaning more people are likely to die, not just from coronavirus but from other illnesses as well,’ he added. 

What are the four reasons that Britons can leave their homes?

• shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible; 
• one form of exercise a day – for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household; 
• any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; 
• travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home.

Even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are six feet (two metres) apart from anyone outside of your household.

What stores will close? And what are the exceptions?

• Restaurants – exceptions are food delivery and takeaway can remain operational.

• Cafes, including workplace canteens – exceptions are food delivery and takeaway can remain operational. Cafés or canteens at hospitals, care homes or schools; prison and military canteens; services providing food or drink to the homeless.

• Bars and nightclubs, including bars in hotels or members’ clubs

• Hair, beauty and nail salons, including piercing and tattoo parlours

• All retail with notable exceptions – Supermarkets and other food shops, health shops, pharmacies including nondispensing pharmacies, petrol stations, bicycle shops, home and hardware shops, laundrettes and dry cleaners, bicycle shops, garages, car rentals, pet shops, corner shops, newsagents, post offices, and banks.

• Outdoor and indoor markets – exceptions are market stalls which offer essential retail, such as grocery and food.

• Hotels, hostels, BnBs, campsites and boarding houses –  exceptions are where people live in these as interim abodes whilst their primary residence is unavailable they may continue to do so. Key workers can continue to stay in hotels or similar where required.

• Caravan parks/sites for commercial uses – exceptions are where people live permanently in caravan parks or are staying in caravan parks as interim abodes where their primary residence is not available, they may continue to do so.

• Community centres, youth centres and similar – Facilities may remain open for the purpose of hosting essential voluntary or public services, such as food banks or homeless services. We will do everything to support vulnerable people who are without a network of friends and families.

• Places of worship for services – exceptions are for funerals following the social distancing guidance; places of worship should remain open for solitary prayer. Live streaming of a service without audience would be permissible.

• Cinemas, theatres and concert halls – Live streaming of a performance by a small group could be permissible with social distancing observed.

• Bingo halls, casinos and betting shops

• Fitness studios, gyms, swimming pools or other indoor leisure centres

• Arcades, bowling alleys, soft play centres and similar

• Enclosed spaces in parks, including playgrounds, sports courts and pitches, and outdoor gyms or similar

Who are the key workers?

Health and social care – 

• Doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers; producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment. 

Education and childcare – 

• Nursery and teaching staff, social workers and specialist education professionals who must remain active to keep schools running.

Key public services – 

• Those running of the justice system, religious staff, charity workers, undertakers, journalists and public service broadcasters.

Local/national government –  

• ‘Only those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits’.

Food and other vital goods – 

• Those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of key goods like hygienic and veterinary medicines.

National security – 

• Police and support staff, MoD workers, the armed forces, fire and rescue services, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles.

Transport – 

• Workers on air, water, road, and rail passenger modes, as well as air, water, road, and rail freight transport modes. 

Utilities, communication and financial services – 

• Staff needed for financial services like banks and stock markets; workers in the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors, the postal service, sewerage and telecoms.

How long will the new restrictions last?

The government’s Cobra emergency committee met at 5pm and signed off the extraordinary new restrictions – similar to those which have already been imposed across the rest of Europe.

They will last for three weeks initially – but the government’s own experts have suggested the situation could take up to a year to resolve.   

What enforcement action will there be? 

In his address to the nation Mr Johnson said if people do not follow the new rules officers ‘will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings’. 

Police will be able to fine people £30 if they ignore the rules and these on-the-spot fines will be ‘ramped up’ if there is widespread flouting, the government has said.

Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers will monitor compliance with these regulations, with police support provided if appropriate. Businesses and premises that breach them will be subject to prohibition notices, and potentially unlimited fines. 

What social events can go ahead?

All social events are also being stopped including weddings, baptisms and other religious ceremonies but funerals will still be allowed to go ahead, attended by immediate family only.

The government is banning public gatherings of more than two people, what are the exceptions?

• where the gathering is of a group of people who live together – this means that a parent can, for example, take their children to the shops if there is no option to leave them at home.

• where the gathering is essential for work purposes – but workers should be trying to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace.  

Are you still allowed to get a takeaway?

Government guidance says people can still access their local takeaway, this includes delivery drivers. But people are not allowed to consume any food or drinks on the premises.  

Venues offering takeaway or delivery services must not include alcoholic beverages in this list if their license does not already permit.