STRICT new measures come into force for Lancashire from tomorrow, Tuesday, to try to curb the spread of coronavirus.

It follows an alarming surge in confirmed Covid-19 cases in the borough over the past two weeks.

After the initial announcement was made on Friday afternoon, rules and guidance about the tougher restrictions were published on the council website but that information was subsequently updated, and the Government has today released its official in-depth guidance for the town.

Everywhere in Lancashire - excluding Blackpool - and Merseyside are among the areas facing additional restrictions from tomorrow, Tuesday.

So now we have the official word from the Government about it, here’s what you can and can’t do after midnight:

The official rules:

  • You must not host people you do not live with in your home or garden unless they’re in your support bubble, or meet people you do not live with in their home or garden – whether inside or outside of the affected area – unless they are in your support bubble.

A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household on an exclusive basis.

Households within a bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight and visit public places together.

People can still come inside your home or garden for specific purposes including where everyone in the gathering lives together or is in the same support bubble, to attend a birth at the mother’s request or to visit a person who is dying.

  • Restaurants, bars, pubs, cafes and bingo halls must remain closed between 10pm and 5am each day.

Businesses and venues can still sell food and drinks for consumption off the premises between 10pm and 5am but only for delivery service in response to orders received through a website or by telephone.

  • Nationally, nightclubs, dance halls and sexual entertainment venues are among the establishments that must remain closed.

But in the areas facing additional restrictions, from tomorrow, hospitality venues must only sell food and drink for consumption on the premises if it is served to customers sitting at a table. They may also sell food and drink for consumption off the premises. 

What could happen if you break the rules:

  • The police are 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. People aged 18 or over can be fined £100 for the first offence, lowered to £50 if paid within 14 days, and £200 for the second offence, which doubles for each further offence up to a maximum of £3,200.
  • The Government has also introduced fines for those who hold illegal gatherings of more than 30 people. Holding or being involved in the holding of an illegal gathering of more than 30 people is an offence and police may issue fixed penalty notices of £10,000 to those who break the law.

The official guidance:

  • As of last Monday, when meeting friends and family you do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, you must not meet in a group of more than six. If you live in the affected local areas, you must not meet or host people you do not live with in private homes or gardens unless they are in your support bubble.
  • In addition to these restrictions, the Government advises that you should not socialise with people you do not live with, unless they are in your support bubble, in any public venue. This applies to inside and outside of the affected areas. Examples of public venues include pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions.
  • People are also advised not to visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances.
  • Furthermore, weddings, civil partnership ceremonies, receptions and funerals are exempt from the ‘rule of six’. A maximum of 30 people can attend these events.
  • And people can continue to use early years and childcare settings, including childminders and providers offering before or after school clubs or other out-of-school settings for children.  But friends or family who do not live with you must not visit your home to help with childcare unless they are part of your support bubble. The only people who should help you with childcare in your home are people you live with, people in your support bubble, or registered childcare providers including nannies.
  • Children of parents who are separated can continue to move between households.

For more information visit gov.uk