PM TO ANNOUNCE ACROSS-THE-BOARD CURBS AFFECTING INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SETTINGS

LAW WILL BE APPLIED TO PRIVATE HOMES, PARKS, PUBS AND RESTAURANTS

GATHERINGS of more than six people in Atherstone and beyond will become illegal from next week under a tightening of restrictions.

As revealed by Nub News yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to hold a press conference this morning to announce the change in policy.

It comes amid fears of a spike in the number of new Covid-19 cases and in a week when the borough's cases per capita has risen dramatically to 13.8 per 100,000 of populations (up from 1.5) with nine new cases in the last seven days (up from one), according to Public Health England figures.

Social distancing guidelines already advise people not to meet outdoors in groups of more than six people from multiple households.

But the law allows for general gatherings of up to 30 people from two households.

This will be tightened from next Monday to make it easier for police to enforce the guidelines and disperse large groups.

The new limit is expected to simplify the current rules as it will apply to a majority of indoor and outdoor gatherings, including private homes, parks, pubs and restaurants.

This means that you cannot sit at a pub or restaurant table with more than five friends at any given time, although it is unclear how many 'bubbles' that group could be a part of.

Full guidance on what can and cannot happen will be issued later.

Safely organised sports matches, weddings, schools and funerals will be exempt.

Mr Johnson told the press ahead of his expected announcement: "We need to act now to stop the virus spreading.

"So we are simplifying and strengthening the rules on social contact – making them easier to understand and for the police to enforce."

Why are they being introduced?.

The chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, and chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, have agreed that the action is needed urgently after the number of positive cases rose steeply. In a Zoom meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week, police forces said they would like rules on social contact to be simplified. What will the punishments be for breaking the rules?

The Government hopes the new rules will make it easier for the police to break up large gatherings.

Failure to stick to the new rules could mean a £100 fine, which will double with every subsequent offence up to £3,200.

How can we be socialising safely?

A new campaign has been launched to encourage people to help stop the spread of coronavirus as we are more likely to socialise indoors during the autumn and the winter. The Hands Face Space campaign urges people to ensure they have washed their hands, used a mask where appropriate and maintain social distancing. The campaign states that these are the three most effective ways the public can contain the spread of the virus. Yesterday, Public Health Warwickshire sent out a warning urging residents to avoid complacency in social settings after "rules were not adhered to" in a visit to a pub and café in the county following a confirmed case of Covid-19. The advice from associate director Emily Van de Venter came on top of the news that North Warwickshire has recorded the county's first death since the beginning of August.