Following alarming predictions about the growth of Coronavirus and the impact on the NHS, England is set to start a ‘second national lockdown’ ( or tougher national measures as No 10 prefers to call it ) on Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December.
The measures will be familiar from the first lockdown . Pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops will close, along with entertainment and leisure venues – including gyms – as well as hairdressers and beauty salons. As before, takeaways and food deliveries will be allowed, as will click-and-collect services. Travel is only allowed for specific purposes , for work, education, healthcare, to shop for essentials and to care for vulnerable people. People will be allowed to meet with one person from another household and sit with them in a park (winter weather permitting ) with social distancing but not in private gardens. Households will not be allowed to mix with others indoors but support bubbles for people who live alone and households made up of single parents and children can continue. Children will be able to move between homes if their parents are separated.
The big difference is that schools, colleges and universities will remain open. The furlough scheme – with 80 per cent of wages paid by the government – will continue through November, having been due to end on 31 October. ‘Shielding’ is not coming back for the most vulnerable people who along with the over 70s, have been told to be “especially careful to follow the rules and to minimise their contacts” . The intention is to return to the local and regional approach of three different tiers of varying restrictions, on 2 December according to the Covid-19 threat in each area depending on the success of the second lockdown.
