Boris Johnson confirms new coronavirus rules

The announcement comes as the PM warned that daily deaths from Covid-19 would increase unless action is taken.

The Prime Minister told MPs: “In the last fortnight daily hospital admissions in England have more than doubled.

“Tens of thousands of daily infections in October would, as night follows day, lead to hundreds of daily deaths in November and those numbers would continue to grow unless we act.”

Bolton is also subject to tighter restrictions, which means it is against the law to:

host people you do not live with in your home or garden, unless they’re in your support bubble, and meet people you do not live with in their home or garden, whether inside or outside of Bolton, unless they’re in your support bubble.

Here are the changes Mr Johnson outlined today:

Work from home if you can do so

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told MPs that the UK has reached a “perilous turning point” in its fight against coronavirus, as he urged office workers who can work from home to do so.

He told MPs: “First, we are once again asking office workers who can work from home to do so.

What about construction and retail jobs?

The PM added: "In key public services and in all professions where home working is not possible, such as construction or retail, people should continue to attend their workplaces.”

New face mask rules - Who now needs to wear one?

Boris Johnson said people working in retail, those travelling in taxis would have to wear face coverings.

10pm curfew to start from Thursday for bars, pubs and restaurants across England

Bars in Bolton were closed for takeaway only recently by the government, and can only stay open until 10pm.

Boris Johnson has now expanded this 10pm curfew to the rest of England, whilst allowing bars to stay open.

He added: “Second, from Thursday (September 24), all pubs, bars and restaurants must operate a table service only, except for takeaways. Together with all hospitality venues, they must close at 10pm.

“And to help the police enforce this rule that means, alas, closing not just calling for last orders, because simplicity is paramount.

"In retail, leisure and tourism and other sectors, our Covid-secure guidelines will become legal obligations.”

Update on sporting events

The exemptions to the rule of six will be reduced, banning indoor team sport – such as indoor five-a-side football matches.

The planned return of spectators to sports venues will now not go ahead from October 1.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Johnson said: “We will also have to extend the rule of six to all adult indoor team sports.

"We have to acknowledge that the spread of the virus is now affecting our ability to reopen business conferences, exhibitions and large sporting events, so we will not be able to do this from 1st October and I recognise the implications for our sports clubs which are the life and soul of our communities.”

New fines for those who don't wear a face mask

The PM added: “These rules will be enforced by tighter penalties… the penalty for failing to wear a mask or breaking the rule of six will now double to £200 for a first offence.”

Schools, colleges, universities and places of worship WILL remain open

Boris Johnson also told MPs: “No British Government would wish to stifle our freedoms in the ways that we have found necessary this year.

“Yet even now we can draw some comfort from the fact schools, universities, and places of worship are staying open, shops can serve their customers, construction workers can go to building sites and the vast majority of the UK economy can continue moving forwards."

Specific guidance for Bolton states: "You may attend a mosque, church, synagogue, temple or other place or worship, but you should socially distance from people outside of your household.

"If possible, prayer or religious services should take place outdoors."

The Bolton guidance states that you should not "socialise with people you do not live with, unless they’re in your support bubble, in any public venue." - which includes places of worship.

'There WON'T be another national lockdown' - Boris Johnson confirms

Boris Johnson said the Government will introduce new restrictions in England “carefully judged to achieve the maximum reduction in the R number with the minimum damage to lives and livelihoods”.

He told MPs: “I want to stress that this is by no means a return to the full lockdown of March. We’re not issuing a general instruction to stay at home.

“We will ensure that schools, colleges, universities stay open because nothing is more important than the education, health and well-being of our young people.

“We will ensure businesses can stay open in a Covid-compliant way. However we must take action to suppress the disease.”

Maximum of 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies in England - 6 in Bolton

Wedding ceremonies and receptions across England will be capped at 15 people from Monday, September 28.

However, guidance in Bolton states that only six people can attend. "A maximum of 6 people should only attend these events. This should be limited to close family of the people getting married. 

"Anyone working at these ceremonies or events are not included as part of the 6 person limit."

What about funerals?

Up to 30 people can still attend a funeral in England for now.

This again differs in Bolton where the 'rule of six applies'.

A maximum of 6 people should to attend these events.

This should be limited to close family of the person who has died, or people who live(d) or formed a support bubble with them.

A close friend can attend a funeral only if there are no household members or immediate families.

People living outside of Bolton can travel to Bolton to attend a wedding, civil partnership ceremony or funeral, but must not meet with another household in a private home or garden.

What about those shielding?

To those shielding, Mr Johnson added: “Following advice from our senior clinicians, our guidance continues to be that you do not need to shield, except in local lockdown areas, and we will keep this under constant review.”

However, the government guidance for Bolton states: "If you are clinically extremely vulnerable we are not currently advising that you need to shield, however it is important that you continue to take precautions."

How long will the new coronavirus rules remain in place?

Boris Johnson said that the restrictions announced could remain in place for “perhaps six months” across England, the time for Bolton itself has not been set.

He told the Commons: “I fervently want to avoid taking this step, as do the devolved administrations but we will only be able to avoid it if our new measures work and our behaviour changes.

“We will spare no effort in developing vaccines, treatments, new forms of mass-testing but unless we palpably make progress we should assume that the restrictions that I have announced will remain in place for perhaps six months.

“For the time being, this virus is a fact of our lives and I must tell the House and the country that our fight against it will continue.”

What changes have been announced for MPs?

Boris Johnson told MPs that they will be able to question the Government’s scientific advisers more regularly.

He said: “We are taking decisive and appropriate steps to balance saving lives with protecting jobs and livelihoods.

“I know all of this will have profound consequences for our constituents so the Government will give the House every opportunity to scrutinise our decisions in addition to regular statements and debates, honourable members will be able to question the Government’s scientific advisers more regularly.”

What has the reaction been to Boris' announcement?

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his party supported the Government’s lates guidance, but said while they were “necessary” they were not “inevitable”.

He said: “Just as we supported lockdown in March and the more recent local lockdowns, although with fierce criticism of the way the Government is handling this pandemic, when restrictions are needed the national interest lies in clear communications and cross-party support.”

Sir Keir said families were worried that “the Government doesn’t have a strategy”.

He added: “One day people were encouraged to work in the office, in fact more than encouraged they were openly challenged by the Prime Minister for not doing so, today they’re told the opposite.

“This is a time of national crisis but we need clear leadership.”