⚠️ New Government restrictions ⚠️ Friday 31 July

This new guidance covers all 10 local authority areas in Greater Manchester, including Manchester. There is no set period for the new restrictions, the Government will review the situation in 1 week.

Why are the new restrictions in place?

The new restrictions have been brought in by the Government as a result of an increase in positive tests.

What does this mean?

The new restrictions mean that you can no longer:

• meet people from other households in your home except where you have formed a support bubble (or for other limited exemptions to be specified in law)
• visit someone else’s home or garden even if they live outside of the affected areas
• socialise with people you do not live with in other indoor public venues – such as pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions. You may attend these venues with people you live with (or are in a support bubble with), but should avoid interaction with others.

People living inside and outside of Manchester can continue to travel in and out for work and you can still go to cafes, restaurants, the gym and other public places, but you should only go with members of your own household – even if you are going outside of the restricted area.

Businesses should take steps to ensure people do not interact with people they do not live with, in line with COVID-19 Secure guidance.

Can I be fined if I ignore the new restrictions?

Yes. The government will pass new laws so that the police can take action against people that break these rules, including asking people to disperse and issuing fixed penalty notices (starting at £100 – halving to £50 if paid in the first 14 days – and doubling for subsequent offences).

Does my household include close family members?

Your household – as defined in law – is only the people you live with. If you have formed a support bubble (which must include a single adult household i.e. people who live alone or single parents with dependent children aged under 18) these can be treated as if they are members of your household.

Can I still meet indoors with people in my support bubble?

Yes. Where people who live alone, or single parents with dependent children aged under 18, have formed a support bubble with another household, they can continue to visit each other, stay overnight, and visit other public places as if they were one household.

Can I still meet people outdoors?

Yes, but you cannot meet people you don’t live with in a private garden and you must adhere to social distancing (unless people are in your support bubble). In line with the national guidance, you can continue to meet in public outdoor spaces in groups of no more than six people, unless the group includes only people from two households. 

Eid al-Adha

For those preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha this weekend with friends and family this is disappointing news, but everyone is being urged to follow the new rules and to protect the ones they love from catching coronavirus.

Mosques and other places of worship have reopened for prayer and communal worship, but in a different socially distanced and COVID-19 Secure way. This means that while mosques can remain open, many will not be able to welcome as many worshippers as before.

Can I still meet with my family and friends to celebrate Eid?

You should not host or visit friends and family in each other’s homes or gardens. You also should not meet friends and family in other venues – including restaurants or cafes.

Up to two households, or six people from any number of households may meet outdoors (excluding people’s gardens) where there is a lower risk of infection. If you do so, you should still socially distance from those you do not live with, and avoid physical contact.

You may attend a mosque or other place or worship, where Covid-19 Secure guidance applies, but you must socially distance from people outside of your household. This means maintaining a distance of 2 metres, or 1 metre with mitigations (such as wearing face coverings). We recommend at this time that, if possible, prayer/religious services take place outdoors.

Can I still go to work in this area?

Yes. People living inside and outside of Manchester can continue to travel in and out for work. Workplaces must implement and adhere to Covid-19 Secure guidance.

Can I still go to cafes, restaurants, the gym and other public places?

Yes. But you should only go with members of your own household – even if you are going outside of the restricted area.

Can people from outside of the lockdown area visit me at my house?

No. This will be illegal.

Can I visit a care home?

You should not visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should restrict visits to these circumstances.

Can I still have my wedding if it’s in the lockdown area?

Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies in these areas can still go ahead. No more than 30 people should attend a marriage or civil partnership, where this can be safely accommodated with social distancing in a COVID-19 secure venue. Further guidance can be found here.

Large wedding receptions or parties should not currently be taking place and any celebration after the ceremony should follow the broader social distancing guidance of involving no more than two households in any location or, if outdoors, up to six people from different households.

Read the Government guidance and Q & A in full.