A NEW nationwide lockdown for England is set to be announced this evening.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there is ‘no question’ that tougher action is needed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

And now just hours after it was announced that Scotland would be plunged into a new national lockdown as of midnight, the Government have said that Mr Johnson will address the nation.

The Prime Minister is expected to place the whole country under tougher restrictions, asking people to once again stay at home.

But what can we expect to be different between Tier 4 and the new national lockdown?

  • It is expected that a renewed ‘stay at home’ order will be issued, with the Prime Minister asking everybody bar key workers and those who cannot work from home to remain inside.
  • Schools across the country will be closed except for in certain cases with the children of key workers and the most vulnerable still allowed to attend.
  • Further restrictions will be placed on outdoor meetings.

This comes amid mounting pressure on the Government to impose severe restrictions immediately following an influx of new coronavirus cases - many of which are the new superspreading variant. 

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for a new national lockdown at the weekend, and today former Conservative health secretary Jeremy Hunt called for school closures, a travel ban and a lockdown "right away".

If England is plunged into lockdown, the decision would follow Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announcing the nation would go into lockdown from midnight.

For those of you who are wondering what you can do in Tier 4 and what a third nationwide lockdown could look like, based on what we already know about Scotland's rules, here's a reminder:

Meeting family and friends: In Tier 4 - stay at home - people cannot socialise indoors with family or friends, unless they are part of your household or support bubble.

You can exercise or visit a public outdoor place with 1 person from another household if you are alone.

According to Scotland's lockdown rules, people must stay at home and only leave for an essential purpose, ie for caring responsibilities or essential shopping.

Outdoor gatherings will be cut back, with people only allowed to meet 1 person from one other household.

Work and business: In Tier 4 everyone must work from home unless they are unable to do so.

The Scottish lockdown rules state everyone who can work from home will be required to, and people in the "shielding" category are advised not to go in to work at all.

If you are shielding and you cannot work from home, it is advised you do not work at all.

Exercise: Currently, you can exercise by yourself, with your household or support bubble or with one other person from another household under Tier 4 rules.

 

This is not expect to change, yet outdoor team sports are expected to be banned.

Travelling: Under Tier 4 rules people must stay at home and not leave their area. Some exceptions are for work, education and to visit your support bubble.

In lockdown, if you live in a Level 4 area you cannot leave home unless it is essential. No one is allowed to travel into or out of Scotland unless it is for an essential purpose.

Weddings, funerals and worship: Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies shouldn't happen in Tier 4, except in exceptional circumstances.

Thirty people can attend funerals, but only 6 can attend a wake.

Places of worship are allowed to open, but people must not interact with anyone outside their household or support bubble.

In lockdown, communal worship cannot take place but 20 people can attend a funeral and 5 can attend a wedding.