Millions of people in the UK now under local lockdown - these are all the areas affected

Jimmy Nsubuga
Updated ·3 min read
Pedestrians, some wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walk along a busy shopping street in Birmingham, central England on September 14, 2020 after the British government imposed fresh restrictions on the city after an rise in cases of the novel coronavirus. - Authorities in Britain's second city of Birmingham announced new coronavirus restrictions Friday as the nation's viral reproduction rate, or R number, exceeded 1.0 for the first time since March. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Pedestrians walk along a busy shopping street in Birmingham (Picture: Getty)

The UK has been put under increased restrictions this week as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Tough new lockdown measures banning people from mixing in homes and gardens have been imposed on Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell, in response to rocketing infection rates.

This is on top of the “rule of six” which was introduced on Monday across England.

The rule bans most social gatherings of more than six people.

Below are the parts of the UK that are currently under local lockdowns, and what that means for people living there.

Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced on Friday that Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull were being made areas of national intervention due to rising infections.

From Tuesday residents in Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell must not meet with people from outside their households or support bubble.

Around 1.6 million people in these areas will be affected.

Greater Manchester

Residents in Bolton and Oldham must not mix with anyone from another household anywhere, while a ban on households mixing indoors continues in City of Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Trafford, Oldham, Bury and Tameside.

People wear face masks as a precaution against the transmission of COVID-19 as they walk past closed shops in the centre of Bolton, northern England on September 9, 2020, as local lockdown restrictions are put in place due to a spike in cases of the novel coronavirus in the city. - The UK government, which controls health policy in England, imposed tougher restrictions on Bolton, near the northwest city of Manchester, after a "very significant rise" in cases. Bolton was found to have 120 cases per 100,000 people -- the highest in the country. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
New measures were announced earlier this week in Bolton (Getty)

Lancashire

A ban on two households mixing indoors will continue in Preston, Pendle and part of Blackburn, while in parts of Blackburn and Pendle residents will continue to be advised to avoid mixing with anyone from another household.

Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale

The ban on indoor household gatherings will continue in urban areas of Bradford where the ban is in place, while in Kirklees, the ban on indoor household mixing will continue in Dewsbury and Batley.

The ban on indoor household mixing will also continue in parts of Calderdale.

Bolton

New measures were announced earlier this week restricting restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs to takeaway only, and all hospitality venues will be required to close between 10pm and 5am.

The DHSC said that casinos, skating rinks, bowling alleys, exhibition halls, conference centres and indoor play areas – including soft play areas – will remain closed.

Socially distanced indoor performances will remain banned and restrictions on certain close contact services will remain.

ABERDARE, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 10: A bench with a sign saying "one person only on this bench" as part of Rhondda Cynon Taf's social distancing and COVID-19 reduction measures on June 10, 2020 in Aberdare, United Kingdom. The Welsh government has further relaxed COVID-19 lockdown measures this week, allowing people from different households to meet up outside while maintaining social distancing. Schools have remained closed and those who have been advised to shield at home can go outside again but have been told to avoid shopping. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
A bench with a sign saying 'one person only on this bench' as part of Rhondda Cynon Taf's social distancing. (Getty)

Wales

A local lockdown will be enforced in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area of south Wales following a “sharp increase” in COVID-19 cases, the Welsh Government has said.

Under the new restrictions, which come into force at 6pm on Thursday, people must not enter or leave the area without a reasonable excuse.

Meetings with other people indoors will not be allowed, including for extended households.

All licensed premises will have to close at 11pm.

Last Tuesday, a similar local lockdown was introduced in Caerphilly county borough.

Scotland

Tougher restrictions on home visits have been extended to Lanarkshire, Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced.

People living in the area will not be able to meet other households in their homes from midnight on Friday.

They come after lockdown restrictions in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire were continued for a further week last Monday, having first been introduced on 1 September.

Punishments

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 for those who participate in illegal gatherings.

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