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The UK areas currently under local lockdown – and what that means for residents

People wear a mask as they leave a shop in Buchanan Street in Glasgow as it became compulsory to wear face coverings in shops from today as Scotland continues with the gradual lifting of restrictions to ease out of lockdown.
Shoppers in Buchanan Street, Glasgow. (PA)

Several areas in the UK are currently under lockdown following spikes in the number of coronavirus cases.

Restrictions were reimposed around Glasgow and western parts of Scotland on Tuesday after COVID-19 infections rose.

Health secretary Matt Hancock also announced last Thursday that local lockdowns in parts of northern England would be tightened due to an increasing rate of transmission.

He said people from different households in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and East Lancashire would no longer be allowed to meet indoors.

Below are the parts of the UK that are currently under local lockdowns, and what that means for people living there.

Glasgow and western Scotland

Restrictions on visiting other households apply to people living in Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire from Wednesday.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the move after 66 new positive tests were recorded in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area on Tuesday.

Exceptions were given – on top of emergency circumstances or providing care to a vulnerable person – for extended households that were established during lockdown.

These include people who live alone, couples who do not reside together and parents who live alone with children under 18.

It is expected that the measures will be in place for two weeks, but the Scottish government will review them after one week.

Indoor visits to hospitals and care homes will be limited to “essential-only” to protect the most vulnerable.

Outdoor visits to care homes will be permitted for up to three people from a maximum of two households, in line with current guidance.

Greater Manchester

Manchester, Bury, Tameside, Rochdale, Salford, Oldham and Trafford are still in a local lockdown.

Residents are not allowed to meet people they don’t live with inside a private home or garden unless they have formed a support bubble, and people are banned from socialising with people outside their households at venues like pubs, bars and restaurants.

People can’t visit friends or family in care homes in these towns other than in exceptional circumstances.

Casinos, skating rinks, bowling alleys, indoor play areas (including soft play areas), exhibition centres and conference halls must also remain closed.

A stop has also been put on the reopening of indoor performances (even with a socially distanced audience), close-contact services (i.e. any treatments on the face such as eyebrow threading or make-up application), and wedding receptions and celebrations, including for up to 30 people in the form of a sit-down.

Local restrictions were due to be lifted in Bolton and Trafford on Wednesday but will now remain in place after a government U-turn.

OLDHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 29: People wear face masks as they go about their daily lives Oldham on July 29, 2020 in Oldham, England. Oldham Council is taking preventative measures to prevent a local lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. The Greater Manchester town has become England's second highest Covid-19 infection rate, after Blackburn with Darwen, and is currently showing a Covid-19 infection rate of 54.3 cases per 100,000 people.  (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Shoppers in Oldham, Greater Manchester. (Getty)

Lancashire

The same restrictions as in Greater Manchester apply in several Lancashire towns, including Preston, Blackburn with Darwen, and Pendle.

The whole of Pendle is subject to wider restrictions, but the following areas have additional measures: Whitefield, Walverden, Southfield, Bradley, Clover Hill, Brierfield and Marsden.

In several areas in Blackburn with Darwen there is also currently a ban on visiting indoor gyms, indoor fitness and dance studios, indoor sports courts and facilities, and indoor swimming pools.

West Yorkshire

Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees are also subject to the restrictions that apply in Greater Manchester.

In Bradford, there is also currently a ban on visiting indoor gyms, indoor fitness and dance studios, indoor sports courts and facilities, and indoor swimming pools.

From Wednesday, some wards of Bradford, Calderdale (excluding Halifax) and Kirklees (excluding Dewsbury and Batley) will have their local restrictions lifted.

People wearing masks in Leicester city centre as face coverings become mandatory in shops and supermarkets in England. (Photo by Jacob King/PA Images via Getty Images)
Leicester city centre. (Getty)

Leicester

In Leicester city, the advice to shield remains in place.

Leisure centres, gyms and pools must remain closed.

Authorities also advise that indoor performances, close-contact services, and wedding receptions and celebrations should not restart.

Residents are also not allowed to host or visit people in their home or garden unless they’re in their support bubble.

Northern Ireland

Restrictions have been tightened after a rise in cases in Northern Ireland.

The number of people allowed to meet outdoors has been reduced from 30 to 15 and a maximum of six people can meet indoors from two households rather than the previous 10.

Police will also be enforcing rules more stringently in areas that have seen a spike in infections.

Punishments

The police will be able to take action against those that break these rules, including asking people to disperse and issuing fixed-penalty notices starting at £100 for those who participate in illegal gatherings.

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