Boris Johnson Announces New Regulations To Tackle Covid 19

New regulations have come in to force across the UK to try and reduce the number of cases of Covid 19 across the country.

The measures which were put in place by Prime Minister Boris Johnson divide the country in to three groups depending on how may cases of Covid 19 they have and how they are dealing with them. There have been many arguments and disagreements about this system with many places believing they should be in a different section. Each section has it's own rules as to what people can and can't do with regard to protecting themselves against the virus.

Most of the country is in the lowest tier - medium - but millions of people in the North and the Midlands face extra curbs on households mixing.

The Liverpool region is the only area to be under the toughest rules, with pubs and bars not serving meals closed.

Government health officials are due to meet later to discuss the possibility of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and some other areas joining the top tier.

Hours before the top tier rules came into force in Liverpool, police were forced to disperse large crowds in the city.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland is set to extend the half-term holidays for schools, from Monday, alongside other new measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.

In Wales a short circuit breaker lockdown is being "actively considered" by the government.

Key Differences Between Different Groups In The Alert System

Medium

People must only meet in groups of up to six people, whether this be indoors or outdoors to avoid any unnecessary transfer of the virus between people in larger groups. Scientific evidence has proven that if people meet in groups of up to six there is less chance of other people in the group catching the virus from anyone who has it.

Pubs and restaurants must close at 10pm to avoid people congregating in large groups and not following the correct social distancing regulations.

High

There should be no household mixing indoors. This will help ensure that people follow the correct social distancing measures and are not caught up in small, cramped areas where there is little room to move around. People must stay at least two metres away from each other when possible to avoid any transference of the virus from person to person.

They should only meet in groups of six outdoors. This again helps ensure that social distancing measures are followed and there is less risk of any unnecessary transfer of the virus from person to person.

Pubs and restaurants to shut at 10pm.

Very High

No household mixing indoors or outdoors in hospitality venues or private gardens.

People should only go out in groups of six in outdoor parks or private spaces.

Pubs and bars not serving meals will be closed.

People must not travel in or out of the area.

As it is the only region in the highest tier at the moment, the Liverpool region is expecting its to face some of the tightest coronavirus restrictions as the government plans to announce a three-tier alert system for England.

Steve Rotheram, and six other local leaders, including Liverpool mayor, Joe Anderson, said in a statement: “Pubs and bars; betting shops, casinos and adult gaming centres and gyms will close,” it said. The statement added that there must be “appropriate support” for those businesses and their staff.

More places are expected to be added to group 3 in the future. Meetings are currently ongoing to see whether to move certain places round from group to group.

Liverpool "risks being dragged back to the 1980s" without proper financial support .

That's according to the city's five MP's who gave their reaction after the announcement from the Prime Minister.

The five MPs have questioned why they were "kept in the dark" over scientific advice recommending a short lock down.

The Department for Health and Social Care has been contacted over the letter but has yet to respond.