Couples are BANNED from staying at each other’s houses, ‘immediate family’ only at funerals and £30 fines and threat of court for anyone found in a group in public – the reality of Boris Johnson’s lockdown rules
- Boris Johnson last night put UK into a state of lockdown in a desperate attempt to slow spread of coronavirus
- People can only leave house for food, medicine, exercise or to travel to/from work if ‘absolutely necessary’
- Gatherings of more than two people outside have been banned by government with police issuing £30 fines
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
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The reality of Boris Johnson’s coronavirus lockdown started to become clear today as boyfriends and girlfriends who do not live together were told not to visit each other’s homes.
The Prime Minister last night urged the nation to stay at home and said people should only leave for food, medicine, exercise or work if ‘absolutely necessary’.
He also announced a ban on all social gatherings of more than two people in a desperate attempt to stop the spread of the deadly disease.
The practical ramifications of the measures are now starting to sink in with Number 10 today telling people who are dating that they should not visit their partner’s house.
However, it is currently unclear whether they are allowed to meet in public under the government’s two person gathering rules with Downing Street insistent it will now clarify the matter.
Meanwhile, the government has confirmed police will be able to impose fines of £30 on anyone who does not comply with the ban on groups.
And minsters are warning they will increase those fines ‘significantly’ if people ignore what they have been told.
The government also today said that only small numbers of people can attend funerals, clarifying official advice issued last night which said ‘immediate family’ could attend.
Boris Johnson last night put the UK into a state of lockdown in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus
The lockdown imposed on the UK by the PM represents the most sweeping restriction of social freedoms ever in peacetime.
But what the new rules actually mean for people in terms of how they live their lives is still becoming apparent.
The guidance issued by the government said people should only leave their homes to shop for basic necessities, for one form of exercise a day, for any medical need or for work if ‘absolutely necessary’.
It did not mention any exemption for people who are in a relationship but who do not live together.
Downing Street today said the guidance was ‘clear’ and the ‘rules should be applied to all scenarios’ in a clear hint that people should not be visiting partners.
Asked to clarify the situation, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘I think the rules are clear. You should look at those, they are an instruction from the government given for a very specific reason which is to save lives.
‘People should follow the rules and do so in a common sense way.’
The spokesman said the guidance stated that when people leave their homes they should either do so alone or ‘with members of your own household or if it is for work reasons’.
However, Downing Street said it needed to check whether couples could be allowed to meet up in public.
The government has vowed to stop all gatherings of more than two people in public, potentially leaving the door open to couples – assuming they stay two metres away from each other.
Anyone in a group of more than two people in public will now face a fine of £30 if they are spotted by the police.
The new fining powers will be in place by Thursday at the latest with Downing Street today insistent the £30 figure will be increased if people do not comply.
Meanwhile, anyone who refuses to pay the fine could be forced to appear in court.
The PM’s official spokesman said: ‘It will be a fixed penalty notice, it will initially start at £30 but we will keep this under review and can increase it significantly if it is necessary to ensure public compliance.’
He added: ‘Failure to pay the notice could be subject to criminal proceedings and a summary conviction.’
On the issue of funerals, the government’s guidance said only ‘immediate family’ should attend.
Asked to clarify exactly what that meant, the PM’s spokesman said: ‘I think we would expect families to exercise their own discretion in relation to the issue of funerals.
‘They will be best placed to judge what constitutes the people who were closest to the deceased and who they would view as immediate family.’
However, the spokesman insisted funerals must only be attended by small numbers of people.
Mr Johnson said last week that the UK’s lockdown measures will be reviewed after three weeks.