These are the fines for breaking Tier 2 High local lockdown restrictions in full

That means that the fines for breaking new Covid laws will now apply in Leeds' Tier 2 status. Largely the rules are similar but there are a few key changes to be aware of.

What's changed?

- Now household mixing has been banned indoors anywhere. Before, you could mix households in pubs and restaurants. This is now illegal. You cannot mix households of any size indoors anywhere (apart from the exceptions below).

- Outdoor mixing was banned, but is now legal again. You can meet in a private garden or in an outdoor setting (a street, a field) as long as you keep to the rule of 6 (groups no larger than six) and maintain social distancing.

All the previous rules still apply. So there is a 10pm curfew, the rule of 6, face masks in shops, and social distancing still in effect.

-> These are the Leeds Covid infection rate hotspots as Leeds put in Tier 2

What the law says - and what the fines are

Meeting in larger groups is against the law. There are certain exceptions (see below). The police can take action against you if you meet in larger groups. This includes breaking up illegal gatherings and issuing fines (fixed penalty notices).

You can be fined £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400. If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of over 30 people, the police can issue fines of £10,000.

If you live in a high alert level area you also cannot meet indoors with people outside of the area, unless exceptions apply.

When meeting friends and family you should:

follow social distancing rules

limit how many different people you see socially over a short period of time

-> Why Leeds could be heading for Tier 3 local lockdown as infection rates riseWhat are the Covid law exceptions?

There are exceptions where people from different households can gather beyond the limits set out above. These exceptions are:

in a legally permitted support bubble

in a legally permitted childcare bubble (see section on childcare below for more details)

for work, volunteering to provide voluntary or charitable services (see guidance on working safely in other people’s homes)

for registered childcare, education or training

for arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents or guardians

for prospective adopting parents to meet a child or children who may be placed with them

for supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care (before and after school childcare), youth groups and activities, and children’s playgroups

for birth partners

to see someone who is dying

to provide emergency assistance, and to avoid injury or illness, or to escape a risk of harm

to fulfil a legal obligation, such as attending court or jury service

to provide care or assistance to someone vulnerable

to facilitate a house move

for a wedding or equivalent ceremony and wedding receptions where the organiser has carried out a risk assessment and taken all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of the virus – up to a maximum of 15 people (not to take place in private dwellings)

for funerals – up to a maximum of 30 people. Wakes and other commemorative events are permitted with up to 15 people present (not to take place in private dwellings)

for elite sportspeople and their coaches if necessary for competition and training, as well as parents or guardians if they are a child

for outdoor exercise and dance classes, organised outdoor sport, and licensed outdoor physical activity

indoor organised team sports for disabled people, and youth sport

support groups of up to 15 participants – formally organised groups to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support (not to take place in private dwellings)

protests – if organised in compliance with COVID-secure guidance