05/01/2021

Prime Minister announces national lockdown

Please see the latest announcement from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of a national lockdown, people have been instructed to stay at home with individuals permitted to leave home only for specified reasons. This continues to include:

  • Work, where it is unreasonable for you to do your job from home, including but not limited to people who work within critical national infrastructure, construction or manufacturing that require in-person attendance.
  • Animal welfare reasons, i.e to attend veterinary services for advice or treatment.
  • Accessing essential services (incl. waste and recycling centres) and essential retail.
  • Exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
  • Shielding is also back in place and the clinically extremely vulnerable are advised not to leave home to go food shopping.

The following businesses must close:

  • Non-essential retail
  • Hospitality, except for delivery, takeaway or click-and-collect of food and non-alcoholic drinks, but venues will no longer be able to serve takeaway or click-and-collect alcohol takeaway (until 11pm).
  • Animal attractions (such as zoos, safari parks, aquariums, and wildlife reserves).
  • Indoor attractions at venues such as botanical gardens – though outdoor grounds of these premises remain open for outdoor exercise.
  • Outdoor sporting venues incl. archery/driving/shooting ranges and riding arenas.

Essential business remains open and continues to include:

  • Food shops, supermarkets, garden centres, market stalls selling essential goods.
  • Vets and retailers of products and food for the upkeep and welfare of animals.
  • Animal rescue centres, boarding facilities and animal groomers (may continue to be used for animal welfare, rather than aesthetic purposes).
  • Outdoor parts of botanical gardens and heritage sites for exercise.

The Prime Minister will hold a press conference on the lockdown at 5pm today alongside Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance.

Here is the guidance for England and Scotland. Read the full guidance and press release from yesterday’s announcement on GOV.UK.

Latest posts

View all News
magnifierchevron-right linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram