Machibet AffiliateChaos and confusion as 4.5million are hit by bombshell new lockdown rules with less than three hours' warning | The Sun - Mcb777 Bet

BOMBSHELL new coronavirus rules have left Brits confused after 4.5million people were issued with fresh lockdown demands with just three hours' notice.

The government revealed at 9.16pm that households in Greater Manchester, parts of East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire were banned from meeting each other indoors from midnight last night.

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The new lockdown rules were brought in overnight, with a woman seen walking through ManchesterCredit: Reuters

Worshippers social distance for Eid in Bradford, West YorkshireCredit: PA:Press Association

Queues of cars formed at a mobile coronavirus testing centre in BlackburnCredit: MEN Media

The orders came as England was hit with 846 new positive cases – the highest number in 32 days – adding to fears the country is facing a second wave of the virus.

The sudden new rules - which mean that people can still go to work and even visit shops and cafes but cannot go inside other homes - have left the public reeling.

One local wrote last night pointed out the confusing nature of the guidelines, saying it was "utter shambles" - adding that despite home visits being banned, "you're still allowed to work, public transport, the pub, the leisure centres, the hairdressers, the parks."

Another said: "Bit of a shambles this new lockdown ruling today (that affects Halifax).

"So I’m alright to go for a pint with my mates but I can’t go and sit with my mum who lives on her own? Answers on a postcard please."

Another added: "To be honest I no longer have a clue, just fed up with it and the fact my parents haven’t left the house for months, it’s a joke."

What the new rules mean:

You can go to the pub or a restaurant, but only with your household/bubble
You can only be with members of your household or bubble in your home or garden
You can celebrate Eid and go to a place of worship but only if you follow social distancing - celebrations with members outside your household cannot take place in your home or garden
You can go on holiday but only with members of your household or bubble

Another added: "So I can't visit family in their house or garden but I can go to a pub, for a meal or shopping or use public transport with complete strangers?"

Health Secretary Matt Hancock himself today appeared muddled by the new guidelines, suggesting on BBC Breakfast that households in the lockdown area could visit those outside of the impacted regions - contradicting the official advice.

According to the guidelines published this morning, it is illegal for people who are in the affected region to visit other homes regardless of whether it is in or out of the restricted area.

About 4.5million people will be affected by the new lockdown rules - which are expected to be subject to a weekly review.

The affected areas include all of the 2.8million residents of Greater Manchester, as well as the Lancashire towns of Blackburn, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale.

West Yorkshire, Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees were also hit.

Leicester was also included in the households ban, but pubs, restaurants and hairdressers will reopen on Monday. However, leisure centres, gyms and pools will remain closed.

LOCKDOWN RULES

Does my household include close family members?

Your household – as defined in law – is only the people you live with.

What will be illegal?

It will be illegal for people who do not live together to meet in a private home or garden, except for limited exceptions to be set out in law. You should not host or visit people you do not live with, unless they are in your support bubble. If you live in the affected areas, you should not visit someone’s home or garden regardless of whether this is in or outside of the restricted area.

Can I still meet indoors with people in my support bubble?

Yes. Where people from single adult households (people who live alone or single parents with dependent children aged under 18) have formed a support bubble with another household, they can continue to visit each other, stay overnight, and visit other public places as if they were one household.

Can I still meet people outdoors?

In line with the national guidance, you can continue to meet in public outdoor spaces in groups of no more than six people, unless the group includes only people from two households. You cannot meet people you do not live within a private garden.

At all times, you should socially distance from people you do not live with – unless they are in your support bubble.

I live in this area. Can I still meet with my family and friends to celebrate Eid?

Due to higher rates of infection, if you live in this area you should not host or visit friends and family in each other’s homes or gardens. It will shortly be illegal to do so, unless specific exemptions apply. You also should not meet friends and family in other venues – including restaurants or cafes.

Up to two households, or six people from any number of households may meet outdoors (excluding people’s gardens) where there is a lower risk of infection. If you do so, you should still socially distance from those you do not live with, and avoid physical contact.

You may attend a mosque or other place or worship, where Covid-19 Secure guidance applies, but you must socially distance from people outside of your household. This means maintaining a distance of 2 metres, or 1 metre with mitigations (such as wearing face coverings). We recommend at this time that, if possible, prayer/religious services take place outdoors.

Can I still go to work in this area?

Yes. People living inside and outside of this area can continue to travel in and out for work. Workplaces must implement Covid-19 Secure guidance.

I live in this area. Can I still go to cafes, restaurants, the gym and other public places?

Yes. But you should only go with members of your own household – even if you are going outside of the restricted area.

I live in the area. Can people from outside of the lockdown area visit me at my house?

No. This will be illegal.

Do I still have to shield if I live in this area?

Clinically extremely vulnerable people will no longer have to follow the shielding guidance from the 1 August, unless they live in Blackburn with Darwen in the North West and other local affected areas across England where shielding continues.

Can I visit a care home?

You should not visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should restrict visits to these circumstances.

Can I still have my wedding if it’s in the lockdown area?

Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies in these areas can still go ahead. No more than 30 people should attend a marriage or civil partnership, where this can be safely accommodated with social distancing in a COVID-19 secure venue. .

Can I travel outside of the lockdown area to attend a wedding ceremony?

Yes

Can I travel into the lockdown area to attend a wedding ceremony?

Yes. Weddings should be limited to no more than 30 people and subject to COVID-19 Secure guidelines. People living outside the lockdown areas may travel into the areas to attend a wedding, but should not go into a private home or garden.

Can I still visit a place of worship in the lockdown area?

Yes, but you must socially distance from people outside of your household. This means maintaining a distance of 2 metres, or 1 metre with mitigations (e.g. face coverings). We recommend at this time that if possible prayer/religious services take place outdoors.

Can funerals still take place in the lockdown areas?

Yes. Funerals should be limited to no more than 30 people and subject to COVID-19 Secure guidelines. People living outside the lockdown areas may travel into the areas to attend a funeral.

Can I holiday in the lockdown area, or visit shops, leisure facilities, or cafes in it?

Yes. However, you must avoid socialising with people indoors when doing so.

Can I travel in a car with someone I do not live with?

You should try not to share a vehicle with those outside your household or social bubble.

And others flagged concerns that the lockdown had been brought in just as Eid celebrations began today.

The Muslim Council of Britain's secretary general, Harun Khan, criticised the way the announcement was made, saying: "With the first day of Eid being today, for Muslims in the affected areas, it is like being told they cannot visit family and friends for Christmas on Christmas Eve itself.

"Whilst the safety of communities is of paramount importance, as has remained the case from the very outset of this crisis, so is effective communication delivered in a timely fashion.

"Failure to communicate makes it difficult for communities across the country to continue working together to minimise the spread of the virus, whilst eroding trust in the ability of authorities to steer our course as we tackle the Covid-19 crisis."

One person wrote on Twitter: "So they’re reinforcing lockdown rules in northern areas with large Muslim communities in time for Eid celebrations with family and friends whilst simultaneously leaving pubs and businesses open is it? Got it."

Another added: "Why if all other lockdown measures have been announced with days notice, has this local lockdown been announced hours before Eid? Would they do this on a Christmas Eve? Absolutely not."

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi today slammed the "lack of clarity" over the message on Good Morning Britain, saying she had received calls up to 1am overnight by confused members of the community.

The move was criticised as 'utter shambles'

Brits have been left confused by the new rules introduced overnight

One said they had 'no clue' about the coronavirus rules

Matt Hancock made the announcement yesterday evening

A woman wearing a face mask walks through ManchesterCredit: Reuters

A woman wearing a face mask walks through the centre of Bradford, West Yorkshire, one of the areas where new measures have been implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirusCredit: PA:Press Association

A worshipper uses hand sanitiser at the Bradford Grand Mosque on the first day of Eid in Bradford, West Yorkshire, one of the areas where new measures have been implementedCredit: PA:Press Association

Greater Manchester woke up to new coronavirus rules this morning Credit: �AndyKelvin / Kelvin Media

An empty street in Manchester after the new lockdown rules were announcedCredit: �AndyKelvin / Kelvin Media

A man wearing a face mask has his temperature checked to try stop the spread of coronavirus, before being allowed to go into Manchester Central MosqueCredit: AP:Associated Press

People pass through a Covid-19 testing centre at Bradford University in West YorkshireCredit: PA:Press Association

And Health Secretary Matt Hancock this morning was left trying to defend the move, saying the move had been "absolutely necessary".

Speaking to Sky News, he said the new rules were "crystal clear", saying the test and trace data had shown "most of the transmission is happening between households.

He added: "Everyone can see that the problem with this virus is it thrives on the social contact that makes life worth living."

The Health Secretary had last night said he was introducing the new measures with a "heavy heart" - tweeting the announcement at 9.16pm with details published two hours later before the full guidelines were released this morning.

When asked about the Islamic celebration of Eid, he said his "heart goes out" to the community, adding: "Unfortunately this change does mean that people won't be able to get together in their houses, in their gardens.

"But we are allowing mosques and other religious places to stay open because they've done so much work to allow for Covid-secure celebration and worship."

Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would not argue with local action to reduce the transmission of the virus but said: "Announcing measures affecting potentially millions of people late at night on Twitter is a new low for the government’s communications during this crisis."

He added: "For all the bluster, government has failed to deliver a functioning track and trace system that would spot local flare ups like these."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to discuss the matter in his coronavirus press conference today.

Lucy Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, said she had been "blindsided" by the new rules.

Lisa Nandy, the Labour MP for Wigan, this morning told Sky News that decisions needed to be made quickly but the way the announcement was made sparked "chaos".

She said: ";The government was essentially asking people to comply with new rules without any detail on those rules."

ROLLOUT CONFUSION

THE government introduced new guidelines for parts of England last night - just three hours before they came into force.

So how did the last 24 hours unfold?

Thursday July 30

1pm: News of a possible announcement about Leicester's lockdown is circulated with political reporters, expected to be held about 3pm

3.30pm: News of the announcement on Leicester's lockdown is pushed back to 5pm

6pm: The announcement about Leicester's lockdown was then pushed back to 8pm before finally being pulled

9.16pm: Matt Hancock speaks on Sky News about the new lockdown rules

9.16pm: Hancock tweets that from "midnight tonight" households in certain regions would not be able to meet inside

10.49pm: Andy Burnham, Manchester Mayor, tweets out guidance he is aware of

11.19pm: Initial guidance over new rules sent to media

Friday July 31

6.55am: Full lockdown guidance is issued on government website

A local flagged concerns over the new rules being introduced as Eid celebrations began

The timing of the lockdown has been criticised

Some were frustrated that Wigan was included in the lockdown

Locals in Wigan voiced their frustrations online

Matt Hancock tweeted about the new rules at 9.16pm

Tracy Brabin, Labour MP for Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire said the way the new lockdown measures had been announced was "deeply chaotic".

She said: "The Government had said big announcements would be handled with the seriousness that they merit."

Manchester mayor Andy Burnham defended the sudden introduction of the new guidelines, saying the virus could move "quickly".

Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, he said: "The truth of the matter is the pub is a more regulated environment, as is public transport where people are supposed to wear face masks.

"The home is a less regulated."

Leicester Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "A lot of people are hoping that they can grab a bit of time to go for a summer holiday, and we're not sure here in Leicester whether that's going to be permitted or not."

'WORRYING AND CONFUSING'

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey wrote: "How this lockdown in Manchester, East Lancs & West Yorks has been introduced is worrying, confusing, frustrating and damaging.

"No-one doubts these are difficult decisions - but when lives of millions of people are involved, Ministers have a duty to communicate professionally."

Others took issue with Wigan being included in the fresh lockdown rules, saying that it had been lumped in with Greater Manchester's rise without recording an increase itself.

One local tweeted: "Wigan has the lowest rate of cases in Greater Manchester... it's not our fault other parts of Manchester are letting the side down."

Another added: "Wigan has 8 cases per 100,000 and is on lockdown. City of London has 18 cases per 100,000 and no lockdown. Wonder why that is."

The shock announcement came after Boris Johnson warned between ten and 30 places in Britain are seeing Covid-19 cases “bubbling up”.

Speaking in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, the PM said yesterday: “There are between ten and 30 places where you are seeing it bubbling up a little bit.”