I read a week or so ago about the "Rule of Six" in the UK where only six people can gather in one household. So if you have five people living in your house, only one person could come and visit.

So now they've come out with more Rules in 'the battle against the pandemic' -

God Almighty! Read these 'Rules'! This is un-freaking-believable!


Is the UK heading for a second national lockdown? The latest Covid rules as they are updated

The Prime Minister has set out the latest developments in the battle against the pandemic

[www.telegraph.co.uk]

Boris Johnson is expected to announce a new three-tier local lockdown system for England on Monday (October 12) amid rising coronavirus cases across the country.

The Prime Minister will give a statement in the House of Commons that will seek to clarify the myriad rules and regulations introduced since infections started to climb once again.

Many areas of northern England are already affected by curbs on social life, such as a ban on different households mixing, but the South has escaped any specific restrictions to date.

The new highest level for England, tier three, is likely to go beyond existing restrictions such as the 'rule of six' and the 10pm pub curfew, with hospitality venues set to close altogether.

No social contact would be allowed outside a person's own household, which would extend to outdoor settings.

Liverpool is expected to go into a 'tier-three' lockdown from Tuesday onward, Joe Anderson, the city's mayor, told the BBC after discussions with Downing Street officials.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own devolved governments and separate health systems. Pubs across central Scotland have closed for just over two weeks as part of 'circuit-breaker' measures aimed at reducing close-contact transmission.

The Prime Minister has previously said there is “no doubt” that the UK faces arduous months ahead as it grapples with a second wave of coronavirus cases but is keen to avoid a nationwide lockdown.

What are the new restrictions -

On September 23, the Prime Minister told the country that new, tighter, rules had been put in place around the wearing of face masks, pub opening hours and weddings, while people who are able, have been encouraged to work from home.

But on September 30 he said he was confident Britain would get through the latest outbreak of the coronavirus.

"I am absolutely confident that with better treatments and with the prospect of a vaccine we will get through this," he told a No 10 news conference.

"Let's follow the rules, wash our hands, cover our faces, observe social distancing, download the app, and together we will fight back against this virus, protect the NHS and save more lives."

The restrictions will be in place for the next six months unless there is "palpable progress", the Prime Minister said.

Here are the key points:

Office workers who are able to work from home should do so.

Pubs, bars and restaurants in England must close by 10pm each night.

The hospitality sector is now restricted to table service.

Face coverings must be worn in taxis and private hire vehicles, and by retail staff at work.

Customers in indoor hospitality must also wear face coverings except when seated at a table to eat or drink.

The exemptions to the rule of six will be reduced, banning indoor team sport - such as indoor five-a-side football matches - while the planned phased return of spectators to sports venues was cancelled.
Wedding ceremonies and receptions will be capped at 15 people from September 28.

How did we get here?

On Monday, September 21, Prof Chris Whitty, England's Chief Medical Officer, and Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, used a press briefing to set out their growing worry over the spread of coronavirus in the UK.

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance laid the groundwork for the latest announcement from the Prime Minister

Sir Patrick warned there could be 50,000 coronavirus cases per day in October, leading to 200-plus daily deaths, if the rate of the disease's spread was not tackled.

Prof Whitty said there were now "significant rates of transmission" of coronavirus in the UK, with the "great majority" of areas facing an increase.

This was followed by Mr Johnson's imposition of tougher new rules two days later, which introduced the 10pm hospitality rule as he reiterated the importance of the 'rule of six'.

What is the 'three-tier traffic light' system?

Local lockdowns are set to be automatically triggered by a three-tier "traffic light" system, the details of which Mr Johnson will set out to MPs on Monday.

The planned new approach divides the country into different areas based on local infection rates, which will dictate the severity of local lockdowns.

It will work alongside the new NHS Test and Trace app, which sees people scanning a special QR code to enter and exit pubs, restaurants and bars. The app will then send a message to the user about lockdown conditions when the coronavirus risk profile changes.

Tier one is likely to see people expected to follow the 'rule of six' and maintain social distancing.

Tier two could ban households from mixing in homes, gardens, pubs, bars or restaurants.

Tier three could see people ordered not to have any social contact with anyone outside their household together with the expected closures of pubs, bars and restaurants.

Boris Johnson is still yet to decide whether to include hairdressers and leisure businesses in the top tier. Hotels could also be excluded from this group.

Could there be a short 'circuit breaker' lockdown?

A "circuit breaker" to curb rising infections could still be on the cards.

The Government will continue to take action to dampen down "local flare ups", says Boris Johnson. But if these actions do not bring the R-rate below one, "we reserve the right to deploy greater firepower, with significantly greater restrictions," said the Prime Minister.

He "fervently" hopes not to but will "only be able to avoid it" if people follow the rules.

Some areas of England are already in a local lockdown (see more below).

On October 3, the UK reported 12,872 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus – up from 6,968 the day before. On October 4 the number had risen to 22,961, bringing the total number to more than half a million since the pandemic began.

The jump in infections has been blamed on more than 15,000 positive Covid cases that were “lost” in Britain’s tracking systems, resulting in long delays being passed on to Test and Trace handlers.

How would a 'circuit break' lockdown work?

Some experts say a short, "circuit break" lockdown could lower the UK's infection rate and prevent the need for a longer lockdown later.

The Government has considered a two-week national shutdown, with similar restrictions to the rules at the start of the pandemic, but scientists are divided on whether it would be effective.

Some say it could help to take the strain off the NHS during a second wave exacerbated by flu season, and it could also buy time to sort out the test and trace fiasco. It can be scheduled and planned for, which could mean it is less disruptive to businesses and the economy.

But other scientists say it is overkill, while some warn it causes confusion after economy-boosting schemes such as "Eat Out to Help Out", and some believe it does not go far enough.

Another issue is that the lag between cases falling and that fall showing up in the statistics is around three weeks, so it would be impossible to know whether it was working until it was already over.

There is also concern that a mooted shutdown during the October half-term – which would theoretically minimise disruption to the economy by not requiring schools to close – would be too late amid Britain's caseload now regularly exceeding 13,000 a day (see graphic below).

What are the detailed national restrictions?
Social gatherings of more than six people are illegal (the "rule of six".

Anyone socialising in groups larger than six will be now be liable for a £200 on-the-spot fine, which will double on repeat offences up to £6,400. Previously, the fine was £100.

The same rules apply to face mask infringements, where if you do not wear one when you should, it will be a £200 fine for the first offence.

The limit of six people from up to six households will apply to adults and children indoors and outdoors, in homes, gardens, parks and venues such as pubs and restaurants.

A family of five will only be allowed to meet one grandparent at a time, while families of six or more will be banned from meeting anyone at all.

Mr Johnson said: "There will be some limited exemptions; for example, if a single household or support bubble is larger than six, then obviously they can still gather.

"Covid-secure venues like places of worships, gyms, restaurants, hospitality venues can still hold more than six in total. Within those venues, however, there must not be individual groups larger than six and groups must not mix socially or form larger groups.

"Education and work settings are unaffected. Covid-secure weddings and funerals can go ahead up to a limit of 30 people and organised sport will still be able to proceed."

Will there be a second lockdown?

The Government is still keen to avoid a second UK lockdown, but the Prime Minister recognises that more restrictions may be necessary if existing measures do not bring the R-rate below one.

Government sources had already warned Britain is in "the last chance saloon" to avoid tougher lockdown measures.

At a press conference on September 21, England's Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned that there could be 50,000 coronavirus cases per day in October if the rate of the disease's spread is not brought down.

Matt Hancock has said that we must act now to save Christmas celebrations. "The more we can control the virus now and stop the spread now, the easier it's going to be to have a Christmas that's as close to normal as possible," he said.

But those plans look to be in tatters after Mr Johnson said that the new restrictions can be expected to last six months.

What about testing?

Testing is key to avoiding another lockdown. However, large numbers of people will be refused coronavirus tests even if they have symptoms under government plans to ration testing if the crisis deepens, The Telegraph revealed on Sept 16.

A prioritisation list drawn up by health officials suggests routine testing would no longer be offered to swathes of the public, with tests restricted to hospital patients, care homes, certain key workers and schools.

Mr Johnson last month outlined plans to use testing to identify those who do not have coronavirus, so they can "behave in a more normal way, in the knowledge they cannot infect anyone else with the virus".

The "moonshot" plan, the Prime Minister said, could enable theatres and sports venues to test audience members on the day and allow in all those testing negative, as well as enable workplaces to operate more normally.

Mr Johnson said: "In future, in the near future, we want to start using testing to identify people who are negative - who don't have coronavirus and who are not infectious - so we can allow them to behave in a more normal way, in the knowledge they cannot infect anyone else with the virus.

"Crucially, it should be possible to deploy these tests on a far bigger scale than any country has yet achieved - literally millions of tests processed every single day."

A pilot of the Moonshot Covid-19 testing programme will begin in October despite government scientific advisers warning that it could be seen as "authoritarian".

Salford and Southampton have been chosen as the proving grounds for mass testing, with separate pilots to be carried out at sports and leisure venues such as football stadiums and theatres.

The NHS Covid-19 app, which forms part of the wider Test and Trace strategy, will have only a "limited effect" on containing coronavirus because too many people are waiting more than 24 hours for their test results, a Government adviser has warned.

Local lockdowns

Outbreaks of Covid-19 are accelerating quite rapidly in the north west and north east of England and there has been a significant uptick in the number of people being admitted to intensive care, England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said.

The infection rate in Manchester has risen more than 15-fold since the local lockdown has been introduced, figures released on October 4 show.

Statistics show Manchester's rate is now at 541.6 cases per 100,000 - one of the worst in the country - while the Liverpool caseload stands at 599.9 per 100,000 people.

When restrictions were introduced across parts of the North West in July, the figure for Manchester was around 20 per 100,000.

Nottingham is set to be subject to targeted local action from Monday, with a ban on households mixing likely, after its weekly rate became the highest in England at 760.6 per 100,000.

Liverpool, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough have all been subjected to local coronavirus lockdowns since the start of October.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the second peak in coronavirus infections was "highly localised" and in some areas it was "spreading fast".

Parts of the north east of England have been legally banned from meeting each other indoors in any setting, including Northumberland, Newcastle, Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham.

Wales

Two-thirds of the population of Wales are now living under additional measures after gradual local lockdown restrictions came into place throughout September. Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan are the latest Welsh regions to have new rules imposed.

Scotland

Pubs, restaurants and cafes in most of Scotland will be barred from selling alcohol indoors for more than two weeks as part of efforts to curb Covid-19, Nicola Sturgeon announced on October 6.

Five health board areas - Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran, Lothian, and Forth Valley - face stricter restrictions, with pubs and licensed cafes to shut to all but takeaway customers for the same period.

The measures come into force at 6pm on Friday, Oct 9, for 16 days until October 25.

People in the five health boards under tougher restrictions have also been asked to avoid public transport unless absolutely necessary in the next two weeks, and use it only when travelling to work, school or for other unavoidable reasons.

While a travel restriction is not being enforced on people in these areas, Ms Sturgeon urged residents not to travel beyond their own health boards, and for those elsewhere in Scotland not to visit them.

Snooker and pool halls, indoor bowling alleys, casinos and bingo halls will close in these areas for two weeks from October 10, with contact sports and indoor group exercise for those 18 and over suspended for the same period.

Outdoor live events will be banned in the five areas for the next two weeks.

Mrs Sturgeon said the prevalence of the virus across Scotland is currently around 13 per cent of its March peak, but the case number is estimated to be growing by 7 per cent each day.

She warned that without taking action, the country risks "returning to the peak level of infection by the end of the month".

The new restrictions will not apply for weddings which are already booked and funerals.

The First Minister stressed the changes do not amount to a new lockdown such as that imposed in March and schools will remain open, with no requirement for people to stay inside their homes.

Going to work and using public transport

The Government's call for people to return to the workplace, a measure seen as critical for the survival of cafes and other businesses which rely on commuters and office workers, had been dropped.

Boris Johnson has confirmed the Government's reversion to its stance that all those who can work from home should do so.

Unions had criticised the Government's return-to-work drive, claiming that fewer than half of workplaces have put adequate social distancing measures in place.

An initial 'back-to-work' publicity campaign mooted by the Government was delayed following a significant rise in the prevalence of the virus throughout the UK.

Face masks

Face coverings are mandatory in shops, supermarkets, banks and building societies, with fines of up to £200 for anyone who fails to adhere to the new rules.

The Prime Minister recently announced that masks are also now required for retail staff, taxi passengers and hospitality customers except where seated.

Speaking at a Downing Street briefing the Prime Minister said face coverings should be worn over your mouth and nose "if you're in an enclosed space, and in close contact with people you don't normally meet".

He added: "I know, wearing a face covering feels odd to some people, I understand that, but face coverings do make it harder for the virus to spread, so please wear one to protect others."

The Government has introduced tougher penalties for repeatedly failing to wear masks in public places. Fines will double each time someone is found in breach of the rules, with the maximum of £6,400.

On July 31, Mr Johnson announced that masks had to be worn in museums, galleries, cinemas and places of worship and this was written into law in England on August 8.

Visitors to hairdressers, gyms and leisure centres, dentists and opticians are not required to wear face coverings.

Face coverings are already compulsory on public transport.

Social distancing

The Government has reiterated that people should always adhere to the two-metre rule when engaging with those they do not live with - or one metre with a face covering.

Face coverings are also mandatory where two-metre distancing is not possible, for example in some hospitality settings and on public transport.

Rule of Six and social bubbles

People should continue to "limit social contact as much as possible, and minimise interactions with other households", Mr Johnson has said.

The Government said people should keep their distance from people they do not live with, and encouraged meeting outdoors.

The rule of six replaces both the existing ban on gatherings of more than 30, and the current guidelines on allowing two households to meet indoors.

Mr Johnson said he was "sorry" that two whole households would no longer be able to meet if their total exceeds six people.

He said: "This rule of six will of course throw up difficult cases; for example two whole households will no longer be able to meet if they would together exceed the limit of six people and I'm sorry about that, and I wish that we did not have to take this step.

"But as your Prime Minister, I must do what is necessary to stop the spread of the virus and to save lives. And of course we will keep the rule of six under constant review and only keep it in place as long as is necessary."

Households and "support bubbles" that exceed six people are exempt from this rule.

Families will be told to choose one member to visit elderly relatives in care homes.

New Government guidance for the care sector – which bans flowers and hugs – says homes can begin allowing visitors shortly after they have undergone risk assessments of safety protocols.

The advice recommends "limiting the numbers of visitors to a single constant visitor per resident, wherever possible". It says: "This, for example, means the same family member visiting each time to limit the number of different individuals coming into contact."

Relatives will be told to wear face coverings and follow advice on social distancing as much as possible, keeping at least one metre away and avoiding handshakes, kisses or hugs.

Self-isolating

Individuals who test positive for coronavirus or show symptoms must self-isolate for 10 days.

Anyone infected with coronavirus who leaves self-isolation in a way that puts someone else in danger is committing a crime, with the fine now rising to £10,000 for a second offence.

Other offences recently added into law include a £1,000 fine for falsely telling test and trace officials that you came into contact with a neighbour, colleague or friend after testing positive for coronavirus, forcing them into 14 days isolation.

Under the rule, people would be guilty of a criminal offence if they "knowingly falsely state" to a test and trace or council officer that "someone is a close contact of a person who has tested positive for coronavirus". A fourth such offence would entail a £10,000 fine.

Deliberately not naming your family to test and trace officials when you test positive, so requiring them to self-isolate, also becomes an offence, with a fine of £1,000, rising to £10,000 on the fourth occasion.

Failing to tell your boss that you have to self-isolate "as soon as reasonably practicable" will be an offence, punishable by a £50 fine, while any employer who forces a self-isolating member of staff to come to work will face a fine of £1,000.

Foreign travel

Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, has published a list of countries and territories where the Government has abandoned its 14-day quarantine policy. Changes are usually announced on Thursdays.

Mr Johnson announced on September 9 that Border Force would also step up the enforcement of quarantine rules for travellers into the country.

"We will simplify the passenger locator form needed for travelling to the UK and take measures to ensure these are completed and checked before departure," he said.

"Border Force will step up enforcement efforts at the border to ensure arrivals are complying with the quarantine rules."

In depth: How to get travel insurance should you choose to ignore Foreign Office advice

Pubs, restaurants and hospitality

All pubs, bars and restaurants must now operate a table service only, except for takeaways. Together with all hospitality venues, they must close at 10pm.

Social premises and venues, including pubs and restaurants, are now also legally required to request Test and Trace information from customers and keep the details for 21 days.

Fines will be levied against hospitality venues that fail to ensure that their premises remain Covid-secure. Manchester City Council has called for local authorities and police to have greater powers of enforcement which would enable them to close offending premises.

The latest rules require pubs, bars, restaurants and members' clubs to take "all reasonable measures" to stop singing on the premises by groups of more than six, and dancing, or face fines of at least £1,000, rising to £10,000 for a fourth offence.

They are also barred from playing music that exceeds 85 decibels in order to prevent people from shouting at each other or getting too close to speak.

Read more: What do the new Covid rules mean for gyms, pubs, restaurants and universities?

Gyms, swimming pools and sports

The rule of six has now been extended to all adult indoor team sports.

Netball, basketball, 5-a-side football and other sports will be severely impacted, but it is understood that there may be some emergency funding on its way.

Gyms remain largely unaffected since the latest changes were announced, but the Prime Minister reiterated recently that groups of six people cannot go to the gym together.

Swimming pools are permitted to reopen - though not all have - and grassroots sports have restarted albeit with limitations on indoor activities.

While face coverings remain obligatory on public transport, gym-goers are not expected to wear theirs while working out. Some gyms might require them though - so ask before you go.

In depth: Will gyms close again?

Schools

Prime Minister Boris Johnson joins a socially distanced lesson during a visit to Bovingdon Primary School in Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead CREDIT: PA
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has assured university students that he would allow them home for Christmas.

Mr Johnson said he will ensure that schools, colleges and universities stay open "because nothing is more important than the education, health and wellbeing of our young people".

Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, also promised that "every student will be able to spend Christmas with their family".

Addressing the House of Commons, Mr Williamson sought to assuage fears that university students would no longer be able to return home at the end of the year if the coronavirus situation did not improve

Mr Williamson said: "It's essential we put in place measures to ensure this can happen, while minimising the risk of transmission.

"My department will publish this guidance shortly so that every student will be able to spend Christmas with their family."

Chief medical officer for England Professor Chris Whitty has said that rates in school age children below the age of 17 "are really not changing very much".

Schools, nurseries and colleges opened "for all children and young people on a full-time basis" from September, with schools in England told to keep classes or whole year groups apart in separate "bubbles".

The Government insisted that closing schools "is not an option", but Professor Chris Whitty said the Government's policy on schools may have to be "looked at again" if infections among school-aged children rise.

Prof Whitty said: "At the moment rates are still very low, if there were to be a change in that, there were to be a much broader increase in rates including of school-age children, I think the current policies would have to be looked at again as in the other areas."

Hairdressers and salons

Although hair salons reopened, the experience of getting your hair cut is very different.

Hairdressers are required to wear full-face plastic visors and surgical face masks to reduce the risk of infection and also need to follow strict rules over the disinfecting of equipment.

Customers must usually make appointments, and there are limits on the amount of people in salons. Customers are not obliged to wear a mask, but can if they wish to.

Beauty salons, nail bars, tattooists, spas, tanning salons and other close contact services have also reopened.

In depth: What beauty treatments are allowed?

Hotels and camping

Hotels, holiday apartments, caravan parks and campsites can now operate as long as shared facilities are kept clean.

In government guidance released on June 24, establishments were advised to implement a series of measures to ensure the safety of guests and staff.

Those checking in to hotels should expect to see social distancing stickers on the floor, perspex screens at the reception desk and hand sanitiser or handwashing facilities as they enter the premises during their stay.

The duration of activities such as check-in should now be kept as short as possible, and keys should be cleaned in between guest use. Queues may form outside hotels as they have done outside supermarkets, and hotels have been asked to introduce queuing systems using barriers should they be needed.

Larger hotels can opt to stagger check-in and check-out times, or place markers on the floor to maintain social distancing.

Recommendations to stop coronavirus from spreading also include emptying mini bars, offering buffet-free breakfasts and regularly deep cleaning rooms, with 24 hours left between bookings.

All paperwork is likely to be removed from rooms, along with the telephone, while the plastic pouch containing tea and coffee sachets will either be removed or quarantined for up to 72 hours between guests.

It is thought campsites will ensure that tents are pitched further apart than normal so social distancing measures can be adhered to, along with frequent deep cleaning of facility blocks such as showers.

Cinemas, museums, galleries and theatres

Boris Johnson announced on September 9 that plans to pilot larger audiences in venues later in September would have to be revised. Indoor performances resumed on August 15.

Outdoor theatres reopened and other leisure venues, including cinemas, art galleries and museums, were allowed to reopen more fully from July 4, albeit with their own social distancing rules in place.

Suggested guidance in galleries and museums includes one-way systems, spaced queuing, increased ventilation and pre-booked tickets. Wearing a mask is mandatory in visitor attractions and entertainment venues. Cinemas are expected to sell only a certain proportion of seats for each movie and face masks are now mandatory.

Both the Cineworld and Picturehouse cinema chains have said film screenings will have staggered start and end times, and customers are likely to be required to queue outside before entering to maintain social distancing.

Once inside, families and friends who book together will be allowed to sit with each other at screenings, but it is likely that seats will be kept free between different bookings. However, there will be no pick 'n' mix or other self-service snacks.

In depth: This is what the Covid cinema experience is actually like

Bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos

Casinos, bowling alleys and skating rinks reopened on August 15.

All of the above premises are expected to have "Covid-secure" measures in place, which will most likely involve limitations on customer capacity.

Religion

Places of worship are reopening, but hymns are forbidden due to the higher risk of the virus being transmitted through singing.

Churches are encouraged to implement a "booking system", meaning people may need to reserve their space ahead of services.

Worshippers are advised to bring their own bible or holy book to their place of worship with them. Where worshippers are unable to do so, books should be cleaned and quarantined for 48 hours since their previous use. Muslims should also bring their own prayer mat to services.

Communion is allowed if it is deemed "essential", but worshippers should not drink from the same glass or share the same bread, which could come pre-wrapped. The priest distributing communion should wear gloves and all those involved in the practice should wash their hands before and after.

No hymns should be sung or wood instruments used as they create an “additional risk of infection”.

At christenings, if a family wishes to have their baptism as a private ceremony then the attendees must be limited to six people, excluding the officiant and others working at the ceremony. If the baptism is to happen within the course of communal worship - a service at which the general public can attend, not just an invited group, and normally referring to an advertised regular act of worship - then the numbers who can attend need to be assessed for the building to determine how many it can hold safely with physical distancing.

For christenings and other water rituals, only “small volumes” should be splashed onto the body with full immersion avoided. Those present should stand “distant from any splashes” and all those involved should thoroughly wash their hands before and after such ceremonies. Parents should hold their children throughout the christening service.

Weddings

At present, a maximum of 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, a reduction from the 30 guests permitted by earlier regulations. That number includes the couple, witnesses, officiants, guests, photographers, security or caterers, but does not include staff employed by the venue.

Guests should avoid singing, shouting or raising their voices during the ceremonies, while the bride and groom must wash their hands before and after exchanging rings.

The guidelines also state that only one person is permitted to sing during the ceremony and they should do so from behind a perspex screen.

"Spoken responses during marriages or civil partnerships should also not be in a raised voice," the official guidance says. "This is because of the potential for increased risk of transmission from aerosol and droplets."

The orders of service will be disposable and cash donations will be discouraged. Under the new rules, weddings and civil partnerships should be concluded in the “shortest possible time” and limited to the “legally binding” sections of the service.

Up to 30 people can still attend a funeral.

In depth: The new Covid rules for weddings

What could happen next?

Further tightening of the 'rule of six'

With Scotland and Northern Ireland opting to ban households mixing indoors, Mr Johnson could seek to follow suit if the data shows the 'rule of six' is failing to drive down infections.

Pubs closing

If the 10pm curfew fails to drive down non-compliance with social distancing rules in hospitality venues, Mr Johnson could opt to close them altogether.

The proposal was discussed extensively by ministers but was swerved amid concerns it could dent the economic recovery.

Outdoor sports, gyms, pools

While the rules on outdoor sports remain unchanged, ministers could extend the 'rule of six' to include contact team sports such as rugby, football and hockey if cases continue to rise.

Gyms, which were one of the last venues to reopen during the easing of lockdown due to the high-risk of transmission, could also be at risk.

Swimming pools are also believed to be another area of concern.

Non-essential shops

In a bid to further reduce non-essential contact between households ministers could seek to shut clothes shops, hairdressers and beauty salons in a repeat of lockdown measures introduced in March.

Universities

While Mr Johnson has made clear that schools will be the last sector to shut if more restrictions are required, a growing number of scientists have suggested that universities may be forced to shift back to virtual teaching.

***********

I've gotta say it - The UK became hugely Lib years ago. The more Liberal a country, the more Draconian Authoritarian Dictatorial Totalitarian, you name it - as evidenced by the UK.

No hugs

lol. Is this the craziest thing you ever heard of? Anybody who doesn't think this is nuts doesn't have a brain, as far as I'm concerned.

I didn't realize how long and extensive this was because I was just copying and pasting, until now that I see it all. I can't believe it. There's like a hundred 'rules' in it. They should make it into a pamphlet and distribute it to all the UK citizens.

No wonder they're having so many Protests over there. It's a cry for help.

Here's another good one from the UK -

Isn't this one of those 'isms' - like racism. Weightism. Discrimination against the Weight-Challenged ...

Obese people in their 50s could be asked to shield in local lockdowns

New plans could see individually tailored advice linked to local coronavirus threat levels

[www.telegraph.co.uk]

Obese people who are in their 50s may be asked to shield under local lockdowns, with a 'blanket approach' to shielding replaced by more individualised advice, The Telegraph understands.

Ministers are reportedly weighing up plans which would prevent a full national lockdown, with NHS data showing those who are obese or overweight are at a greater risk from Covid-19

The government is reportedly weighing up plans to make obese and overweight people shield in coronavirus hotspots

Obese people could be told to stay at home in local coronavirus lockdowns, it has been claimed.

The Government is said to be considering a “more sophisticated model” for shielding in a bid to avoid a mass lockdown if there’s a second wave of infections.

This could include the return of shielding for vulnerable groups - but in a more targeted fashion, using NHS data to identify those most at risk.

They could include the over-50s and obese people - both groups which are at higher risk of death and hospitalisation from Covid-19.

Ministers have ‘paused’ the government’s shielding rules - which until last month required millions of people with a broad range of conditions to stay at home.

Ministers may also advise over 50s to shield in places with a high Covid-19 infection rate

Even as tighter lockdown rules were reintroduced in Greater Manchester, the shielding programme was still paused in those areas, meaning people in vulnerable groups were able to leave the house for the first time in four months.

But the plans under consideration would be a “stiletto, not a sledgehammer” - and would pinpoint especially vulnerable people in a local area and tell them to stay indoors.

A Cabinet minister told the Telegraph: "They are understanding that age does come into it.

“The shielding cohort is way too broad - you can't say that every fat person has to shield. It will be more subtle.”

Research from Public Health England found being overweight or obese put patients at greater risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19.

Almost two-thirds (63%) of adults in England are overweight or living with obesity – and 1 in 3 children leave primary school overweight or obese, with obesity-related illnesses costing the NHS £6 billion a year.

SHUT IT DOWN!!!!

how did the biggest dumbass end up on this board?



jennifer,

I really can't wrap my head around the insanity of it.
no singing.
rule of 6
I mean it's just nuts - these people are unfathomably dumb.

Germany too



Schools in Germany are advising pupils to bring blankets to class and wear hats, coats and scarves during lessons as part of the fight against the coronavirus.

Head teachers have issued the advice in response to new government guidelines that require schools to ventilate classrooms by opening the windows every twenty minutes.

Leaving the windows open a crack is not enough. Schools have been told to open classroom windows fully for three to five minutes, and to open doors as well when possible so air can circulate.

Daytime temperatures are already as low as 5C in parts of Germany and many classrooms are too cold to study in comfort.

With winter temperatures often well below zero, no one is under any illusions about how cold classrooms could get.

A sixth form college in Bochum has advised pupils to bring “warm clothes with hoods or hats and blankets” to class, and secondary schools in Düsseldorf are allowing pupils to wear coats and gloves during lessons.

In a letter to pupils, the regional education minister for Lower Saxony warned that “things will get a little cold” and urged them to “dress warmly”.

Doctors have spoken out against the new government regulations, warning they will cause a wave of colds and other infections.

“The rules are absurd,” Dr Stephan Pilsinger, a Munich GP turned politician and MP for Angela Merkel’s Bavarian sister party told Bild newspaper. “They're a health hazard.”

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fresh
how did the biggest dumbass end up on this board?

Law of Attraction, flies to @#$%&?!?

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Prom night

Yes, that's stupid. When will this madness end!

I just envision the people who are doing this to us, watching and laughing their asses off at what sheeple we are and how easy it was for everybody to fall in line

Why can't we organize and have local get togethers where people makes plans to protest together so the Conformists can see that there are a lot of us - ok, only about 20% to 30% here in the US, but still that would be sizable groups - and then maybe more people who are skeptical, but going along to get along, would realize it doesn't have to be this way, would join in, we'd get media coverage and increase our numbers, put pressure on politicians or whatever.

Like we did when I was in the Tea Party Movement. They had an effect. Now there are so many high-profile, professional, media, medical people, that it could make a difference ...