Yahoo Finance New map shows the areas of England and Wales under local lockdown – and what the rules are
The government has published a map showing the different national and regional measures in place to combat coronavirus across the UK.
With cases surging across the country and more areas now facing local lockdowns there have been complaints that the variation between places are becoming too complicated to understand.
Earlier today Matt Hancock announced more areas of the North West and North East would be put under local lockdown.
You can access the map here
People in the Liverpool City Region, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough will be banned from indoor mixing between households will be illegal.
The latest rules, which affect almost two million people, will advise people not to mix with others in outdoor public spaces such as parks.
Watch: Tougher restrictions announced for Liverpool, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough
The new tool comes as the government aims to simplify the rules amid complaints they were too complicated to understand.
On Tuesday Boris Johnson apologised after he was unable to explain new rules for the north-east of England.
A recent survey showed 64% of the public thought current government guidelines were “unclear”.
Alongside the local lockdowns in place there is also significant variation in the rules among the four nations of the UK.
All nations have the rule of six in place (with some variations), requirements to wear masks in a variety of places, limits on business opening times and some venues forcibly closed.
Read more: Coronavirus spread In England 'slowing', latest study suggests
In Scotland and Northern Ireland mixing with people inside people’s homes is banned – a measure only applied during local lockdowns in England and Wales.
England also has tighter rules around large gatherings of more than 30 people and illegal raves, with harsh penalties for anyone involved in organising them.
The map does not show local lockdowns currently in place in Scotland due to the different way the Scottish government implements them, while there are no local lockdown restrictions currently in place in Northern Ireland.
Here are the local lockdown restrictions in place in England and Wales:
Bolton
Bolton has consistently had one of the highest infection rates in England in recent weeks and is subject to a raft of measures.
People in Bolton are currently banned from mixing indoors or in gardens and are advised against travelling to and from the area unless absolutely necessary.
Pubs and restaurants may only provide takeaway services and many indoor and outdoor entertainment and hospitality venues are subject to 10pm closing times.
On Saturday, the guidelines will be relaxed and brought into line with the rest of Greater Manchester.
Greater Manchester
The only extra provision residents of Greater Manchester are subject to outside the national rules is a ban from mixing with others in their homes or gardens.
The measures are in place for the City of Manchester, Trafford, Bury, Tameside, Rochdale, Salford, Oldham, Stockport and Wigan.
Leicester
The first area of the UK to be subject to local lockdown after the end of the peak of the pandemic is still subject to enhanced restrictions.
Read more: Coronavirus vaccine could take a year to distribute
People in Leicester are banned from meeting or hosting people in private homes or gardens.
Shielding advice which was in place nationally for the most vulnerable in the UK during the height of the pandemic is still in place in Leicester until 5 October.
The rules also apply to Oadby and Wigston.
North-east England
Large areas of the North East have also been grouped together and put under local lockdown after a spike in infections.
The areas are Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland.
Watch: UK coronavirus cases rising - why are deaths still low?
People in these areas are banned from meeting with people indoors in private homes or gardens.
From Saturday, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool will be included in the restrictions.
People in the two areas will also be banned from meeting people in pubs and restaurants and people will be advised against visiting care homes, attending sports events and all but essential travel.
North-west England
Large parts of the North West are also under local lockdown, with some areas within the region facing even tighter measures.
Like with other areas, there is a ban on mixing in private households and gardens.
The places included in the restrictions are: Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Halton, Hyndburn, Knowsley, Lancaster, Liverpool, Pendle, Preston, Ribble, Rossendale, Sefton, South Ribble, St Helens, Warrington, West Lancashire, Wirral and Wyre.
In Blackburn with Darwen, hospitality venues are advised against allowing people to walk-in to their venues and should only accept pre-booked customers.
Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle also must limit funeral ceremonies to 20 people rather than the national limit of 30.
Shielding advice is still in place in Blackburn with Darwen until 5 October.
From Saturday, the Liverpool City Region and Warrington will be subject to enhanced measures.
It will be illegal to meet indoors pubs and restaurants and people will be advised against visiting care homes, attending sports events and all but essential travel.
West Midlands
People in Birmingham, Sandwell Solihull and Wolverhampton are also subject to enhanced measures.
They are subject to a ban on meeting people in private households or gardens.
West Yorkshire
People in Leeds, Calderdale and Kirklees must not meet people in privates households or gardens.
South Wales
People in Cardiff, Swansea, Llanelli, Neath, Port Talbot, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Vale of Glamorgan, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, and Merthyr Tydfil and Caerphilly are all under local lockdown.
People in these areas are banned from meeting people indoors and are advised against leaving the area.
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