National lockdown from 4 January 2021

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 4 January (press release), the UK will be going back into lockdown from 4 January for at least 6 weeks. You should continue to avoid close contact and remain socially distant from anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble.

It is critical that everybody observes the following key behaviours:

• HANDS – Wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds.
• FACE – Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet. You are required by law to wear face coverings on public transport, and in shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, banks, building societies, post offices, and indoor transport hubs.
• SPACE – Stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors). You should stay alert when you leave home and continue to avoid close contact  from anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble – even inside other people’s homes.

The new national restrictions are explained in the following document. However, from Monday 4 January, everyone must stay at home, and may leave only for a limited set of reasons. These include:

• For work, if you cannot work from home
• For exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household, support bubble or on your own with one person from another household
• For all medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm
• To shop for food and essentials
• And to provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.

Read the new national restrictions here.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

These measures apply to England – but there may be different rules if you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The Government has released the Government’s plan for recovery to return life to as near normal as possible in order to safeguard livelihoods, but in a way that is safe and continues to protect our NHS. Currently this plan only applies to people living in England.