Chaos and confusion as 4.5million are hit by bombshell new lockdown rules with less than three hours’ warning

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 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.

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.

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."

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.”

Last week we told how Blackburn overtook Leicester to become Britain’s coronavirus hotspot after cases doubled in just one week.

Meanwhile in Bournemouth beach, police are today on standby to set up roadblocks to prevent a repeat of chaotic scenes of crowded seasides.

A major incident had been declared at Bournemouth last month as people packed onto the beach, with plans now in place to cope with another potential surge.