Local lockdown Leeds: Tier 2 Covid rules explained and your questions answered as new restrictions are enforced

Strict new lockdown restrictions are to be introduced in Leeds following the introduction of a new three tiered lockdown system for local lockdowns in England.

The new rules, which will take effect on Wednesday (14 October), have seen regions divided into ‘medium’ (tier 1), ‘high’ (tier 2) and ‘very high’ (tier 3) level alerts based on the rate of local infections, with each of the three tiers dictating different restrictions.

Leeds has been placed under ‘high’ alert, as the Prime Minister confirmed all areas currently in local lockdown will automatically move into this tier.

Here are all of your questions answered regarding the new restrictions.

When do the new restrictions take effect?

The new tier 2 restrictions will come into force on Wednesday 14 October.

Where do the restrictions apply?

The ‘high’ Covid alert level rules will apply to the following areas in West Yorkshire:

- Leeds

- Bradford

- Kirklees

- Calderdale

- Wakefield

What are the rules?

The restrictions in areas on ‘high’ alert are similar to those that were previously implemented in areas under local lockdown.

If you live in an area on high alert, you must not:

- meet with anybody outside your household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place, such as pubs, bars and restaurants

- meet in a group of more than six outside, including in a private garden or other outdoor space

Mixing in private gardens is allowed, providing the rule of six is followed.

Social distancing must also be obeyed at all times and people have been advised to work from home where possible.

Are there any exceptions?

While households are not permitted to mix indoors in any setting, people can come inside your home for specific purposes. This includes the following circumstances:

- Where everyone in the gathering lives together or is in the same support bubble

- To attend a birth at the mother’s request

- To visit a person who is dying

- To fulfil a legal obligation

- For work purposes, or for the provision of voluntary or charitable services

- For the purposes of education or training

- For the purposes of childcare

- To provide emergency assistance

- To enable one or more persons in the gathering to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm

- To facilitate a house move

- To provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person

- To fulfil existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children where the children do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents will remain exempt.

What about childcare?

There are exceptions from legal gatherings limits for registered childcare, education or training, and supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care, youth groups and activities, and children’s playgroups. This means you can continue to use early years and childcare settings, including childminders, after-school clubs and nannies.

The following people can provide childcare support in private homes and gardens:

- registered childcare providers, including nannies

- people in your support bubble

- people in your childcare bubble

A childcare bubble is where someone in one household provides informal (unpaid and unregistered) childcare to a child aged 13 or under in another household. For any given childcare bubble, this must always be between the same two households.

Friends or family who do not live with you and are not part of a support or childcare bubble must not visit your home to help with childcare.

What are the rules about transport?

Government guidance states that public transport should only be used for essential purposes, such as travelling to school or work. People have been advised not to car share with people outside of their household or support bubble where possible.

If you need to travel, it is advised that you walk or cycle where possible, or plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport. This will allow you to practise social distancing while you travel.

Can I still go on holiday?

You can still go on holiday outside of high alert level areas, but you must only do this with people in your household or support bubble.

You can also still travel within high alert level areas to hotels and other guest accommodation, but again you should only do this with people in your household or support bubble. However, it is advised you do not travel to any part of the country on a very high Covid alert level.

If travelling to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you should follow the guidance of the devolved administrations.

Will non-essential shops close?

Closure of non-essential shops has not been announced as part of the stricter measures.

However, a 10pm curfew for leisure and entertainment venues will remain in place.

Will schools stay open?

Schools will not close under the new restrictions.

In education settings with pupils in year seven and above, face coverings should be worn by staff, students and visitors when moving around in corridors and communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain.

It is not necessary for face coverings to be worn in classrooms.

Do I still have to go into work?

People who live in a high alert level area can continue to travel in and out for work, and workplaces should implement Covid-secure guidance.

Current government guidance states that, where possible, people should work from home.

Can I meet my family and friends in a pub?

Rules state that people must not socialise with other people outside of their own household, or support bubble, in all indoor public venues.

This includes pubs, restaurants and cafes, as well as private homes.

Can I meet my family and friends in an outdoor space?

Yes, you can meet family and friends in an outdoor space, including parks and private gardens, under the new rules.

However, when you do so, you must not meet in a group of more than six. This limit of 6 includes children of any age.

Do those classed as ‘extremely high risk’ or vulnerable need to go back to shielding?

The government is not currently advising people who are considered highly vulnerable to coronavirus to go back to shielding.

The official advice states that people should not meet with other households indoors in any setting, and should keep the number of social interactions that you have low.

How long are these restrictions likely to last?

Boris Johnson said that the new local measures will be kept under constant review and could be subject to change in response to the local infection rates.