Guidance
Find out what restrictions are in place if you live, work or travel in the north-west area and other affected areas.Published 31 July 2020
Last updated 31 July 2020 — see all updatesFrom:Department of Health and Social Care
An outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been identified in parts of Greater Manchester, East Lancashire, and West Yorkshire. The government and relevant local authorities are acting together to control the spread of the virus.
From 31 July 2020, if you live in these parts of Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire, you should follow these rules when meeting people who you do not live with. Separate guidance advises on the similar rules imposed in Leicester.
If you live in one of the affected areas, in order to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, you should not:
The government will pass new laws to enforce the changes to meeting people in private homes and gardens. The police will be able to take action against those that break these rules, including asking people to disperse and issuing fixed penalty notices (starting at £100 – halving to £50 if paid in the first 14 days – and doubling for subsequent offences).
In Blackburn with Darwen and Bradford, the following premises must remain closed by law:
Your household – as defined in law – is only the people you live with. If you have formed a support bubble (which must include a single adult household i.e. people who live alone or single parents with dependent children aged under 18) these can be treated as if they’re members of your household.
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’re 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.
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.
In line with the national guidance, you can continue to meet in public outdoor spaces in groups of no more than 6 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.
You should not travel outside of this area to meet people in their homes or garden.
You should not meet with people you do not live with in their homes or gardens.
Two households, or up to 6 people from multiple households, can still meet in outdoor public places (like parks) for childcare. Where people from single adult households (people who live alone or single parents with dependent children aged under 18) have formed a support bubble, they can continue to visit each other for childcare purposes.
You should not meet with people you do not live with in their homes or gardens.
Two households, or up to 6 people from multiple households, can still meet in outdoor public places (like parks) for childcare. 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 for childcare purposes.
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 6 people from any number of households may meet outdoors (excluding people’s gardens) where there’s 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.
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.
Yes. People can still come inside your home when they’re doing so as part of their work. See guidance on working safely in other people’s homes.
Yes. But you should only go with members of your own household – even if you are going outside of the restricted area.
No. This will be illegal.
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.
You should not visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should restrict visits to these circumstances.
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. Further guidance can be found here.
Large wedding receptions or parties should not currently be taking place and any celebration after the ceremony should follow the broader social distancing guidance of involving no more than two households in any location or, if outdoors, up to 6 people from different households.
Yes.
Yes. Weddings should be limited to no more than 30 people and subject to COVID-19 secure guidelines.
People living outside this area may travel into the areas to attend a wedding, but should not go into a private home or garden.
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 (for example face coverings). We recommend at this time that if possible prayer/religious services take place outdoors.
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.
Yes. However, you must avoid socialising with people indoors when doing so.
You should not travel outside of this area to meet people in their homes or gardens. You can still go on holiday, but you should only do this with people you live with (or have formed a support bubble with).
You should try not to share a vehicle with those outside your household or social bubble. If you need to, try to:
The Department for Transport has provided specific guidance on using private vehicles. Please see their guidance on private cars and other vehicles for more information on car sharing and traveling with people outside your household group.Published 31 July 2020