We are now in a Tier 4 area, you must follow the rules below from Sunday 20 December. This means that you cannot meet other people indoors, including over the Christmas period, unless you live with them, or they are part of your existing support bubble. Outdoors, you can only meet one person from another household. These rules will not be relaxed for Christmas.
Meeting Friends and Family
- You should not leave your home unless you have a reasonable excuse – such as education, work (if it can’t be done from home), exercise, medical needs, food and other essential shopping, or to provide care.
- You should not mix socially indoors, or in a private garden, with anyone who is not part of your household or support bubble.
- Support bubbles can be formed between one household and another which contains only one adult – with some exceptions.
- You can meet, when alone, with one other person from another household, in an outdoors public place (such as a park, a street, countryside, an allotment or a children’s playground).
- Children under five, and up to two carers for a person with a disability who needs continuous care are not counted towards the outdoors gatherings limit.
- Children can continue to move between homes if their parents are separated.
- Support groups of 15 people or fewer are allowed in certain circumstances, such as for new parents or addiction recovery.
Going to Work
- You should work at home if possible.
- If you have to return to your workplace, your employer must make arrangements for you to work safely.
- Where it’s necessary for you to work in other people’s homes (for example, as a cleaner or a plumber) you can do so.
Schools and Nurseries
- Schools are now closed for the Christmas holidays.
- There will be a staggered return to face-to-face teaching in secondary schools in January 2021, starting with pupils in exam years, vulnerable children and the children of key workers.
- Other pupils will be taught online for the first week of term.
- Primary school pupils will return to school as normal.
Leisure Time
- Pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes are closed, except for takeaways and deliveries.
- There is no limit on the time allowed for recreation or exercise outdoors.
- Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and swimming pools are closed.
- Outdoor sports courts, outdoor gyms, golf courses, outdoor swimming pools, archery/driving/shooting ranges, riding centres and playgrounds can remain open for individual exercise.
- Organised outdoor sport for under-18s and disabled people can continue.
- Entertainment venues including theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, are all closed.
- Hotels, hostels, guest houses and campsites are closed except in certain circumstances (such as where they are someone’s main residence, or where it is essential to stay there for work purposes).
Shopping
- All non-essential shops must close.
- Close contact services, such as hairdressing or beauty salons must close.
- Shops that can remain open include pharmacies, garden centres, building merchants and off-licences.
Other
- Places of worship can open for communal services, but people should not mix with anyone from outside their household or support bubble.
- Weddings and civil partnerships can take place with up to 15 guests; wedding receptions are still not allowed.
- Funerals can be attended by a maximum of 30 people. Linked ceremonial events can continue with up to 15 people.
- You should avoid travelling outside your area if possible.
Christmas rules
- You are not allowed to stay overnight away from your home, whether on holiday, in a second home or caravan, or with anyone you do not live with, or are in a support bubble with.
- You are not allowed to travel outside your area.
- You are not allowed to travel abroad, unless for exceptional reasons.
- Places of worship remain open for communal services.
- Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies cannot take place except where one of those getting married is seriously ill and not expected to recover. These weddings are limited to six people.
- Funerals can be attended by a maximum of 30 people. Linked ceremonial events can continue with up to six people.
- Visits to care homes can take place with social distancing arrangements. Close-contact indoor visits supported by testing are not allowed in tier four.
