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Coronavirus: What are the new lockdown rules for Aberdeen and other areas? Coronavirus: What are the new lockdown rules for Aberdeen and other areas?
(about 2 hours later)
Parts of England and Scotland are now subject to ''local lockdowns'' to help stop the spread of Covid-19.Parts of England and Scotland are now subject to ''local lockdowns'' to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
In Aberdeen, pubs and restaurants have been told to close and people asked not to visit others' houses, after a cluster of coronavirus cases.In Aberdeen, pubs and restaurants have been told to close and people asked not to visit others' houses, after a cluster of coronavirus cases.
It happened after separate households were banned from meeting up indoors in Greater Manchester, where a major incident was declared following a rise in cases.It happened after separate households were banned from meeting up indoors in Greater Manchester, where a major incident was declared following a rise in cases.
Similar restrictions apply in east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire.Similar restrictions apply in east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire.
What measures are being taken?What measures are being taken?
In Aberdeen, a ''significant outbreak'' of 54 coronavirus cases has prompted the government to reintroduce lockdown measures. Pubs and restaurants will be closed, and people are being told not to travel to the city, while residents should not travel more than five miles for leisure purposes. In Aberdeen, a ''significant outbreak'' of 54 coronavirus cases prompted lockdown measures to be reintroduced. Pubs and restaurants will be closed, and people are being told not to travel to the city, while residents should not travel more than five miles for leisure purposes.
Residents there and in other locked-down areas are not allowed to socialise with other households in their homes, gardens or any other indoor venue, either inside or outside the local area. Travelling for work or education is allowed, but other travel is not advised.Residents there and in other locked-down areas are not allowed to socialise with other households in their homes, gardens or any other indoor venue, either inside or outside the local area. Travelling for work or education is allowed, but other travel is not advised.
A list of 20 licensed venues involved in the outbreak will be published later on Wednesday. The restrictions will be reviewed next Wednesday, and may be extended further if necessary.
Local lockdown rules vary from place to place.Local lockdown rules vary from place to place.
In the parts of England under lockdown, people can still visit pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues, but only with members of their household.In the parts of England under lockdown, people can still visit pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues, but only with members of their household.
They can also meet up to six people from different households in an outdoor public place.They can also meet up to six people from different households in an outdoor public place.
The government is passing new laws to enforce these rules, and police will be able to ask people to disperse, and to issue fines.The government is passing new laws to enforce these rules, and police will be able to ask people to disperse, and to issue fines.
In Blackburn with Darwen, indoor gyms, swimming pools and other sports facilities must remain closed.In Blackburn with Darwen, indoor gyms, swimming pools and other sports facilities must remain closed.
While shielding has now been paused in most parts of England, those shielding in local lockdown areas should continue to do so. Shielding in Charnwood and Blaby in Leicestershire, and also in Luton in Bedfordshire will continue until 17 August, while shielding guidance in the other affected areas will be under review.While shielding has now been paused in most parts of England, those shielding in local lockdown areas should continue to do so. Shielding in Charnwood and Blaby in Leicestershire, and also in Luton in Bedfordshire will continue until 17 August, while shielding guidance in the other affected areas will be under review.
What has Leicester's local lockdown involved?What has Leicester's local lockdown involved?
Leicester was the first place in the UK to experience local lockdown, after a sharp rise in infections at the beginning of July. The UK's first local lockdown was in Leicester, after infections rose there at the beginning of July.
Lockdown measures included: Non-essential shops were told to close, while bars and restaurants couldn't reopen with the rest of England.
Residents were told to stay at home as much as they were able and avoid non-essential travel to, from, and within Leicester. Most venues can now open but leisure centres, gyms and pools must remain closed.
People or businesses that repeatedly flout the new law may be fined up to £3,200. The borough of Oadby and Wigston on the city's outskirts has also come out of local lockdown, although shielding still applies there.
In Leicester, most venues can open but leisure centres, gyms and pools will remain closed. Religious ceremonies can also take place.
The borough of Oadby and Wigston on the city's outskirts have also come out of local lockdown, although there is still a shielding extension there.
Why have the latest restrictions happened?Why have the latest restrictions happened?
The government is trying to target local clusters or outbreaks to stop the spread as quickly as possible and prevent a national lockdown. Local clusters or outbreaks are being targeted to stop the spread as quickly as possible and prevent a national lockdown.
A cluster is a group of cases in one place like a hospital, factory or school. When clusters are linked, this is called an outbreak.A cluster is a group of cases in one place like a hospital, factory or school. When clusters are linked, this is called an outbreak.
Data showing the number of cases in a particular place is used to help decide what action should be taken.Data showing the number of cases in a particular place is used to help decide what action should be taken.
Contact tracing data suggests the localised flare-ups were prompted by households meeting up without following social distancing, Health Minister Matt Hancock has suggested. Cases are also identified through testing, with mobile units and door-to-door testing often taken to at-risk places.
More cases are also being identified through testing. England has more than 250 testing centres, and a dozen walk-in centres are being set up.
If a cluster or outbreak occurs, extra testing equipment, including mobile units, is sent to the area, while door-to-door testing may also take place.
Public Health England has also produced a watchlist of areas, based on new coronavirus infection rates, and other local intelligence.Public Health England has also produced a watchlist of areas, based on new coronavirus infection rates, and other local intelligence.
Why are there local lockdowns?Why are there local lockdowns?
On 17 July the prime minister announced new powers for local authorities and central government to stop specific outbreaks of Covid-19. Local authorities and central government have been given new powers to stop specific outbreaks of Covid-19.
He said that coronavirus would be controlled "through targeted local action", because more was known about how and where it was spreading. These actions could range from targeting a hospital or factory, to locking down a whole city.
These actions would range from targeting a hospital, factory, school or one business in a building, to locking down a whole city.
Local authorities were given powers to:Local authorities were given powers to:
Ministers can:Ministers can:
Can police enforce a lockdown?Can police enforce a lockdown?
Police have powers to enforce a local lockdown. For example, if they believe that somebody is staying away overnight, they can tell them to return home.Police have powers to enforce a local lockdown. For example, if they believe that somebody is staying away overnight, they can tell them to return home.
They can also fine people for breaking the rules, and they may also issue a "prohibition notice" directing somebody not to do something. They can also fine people for breaking the rules, and may issue a "prohibition notice" directing somebody not to do something.
But if a resident from a locked-down area wanted to go to a bar in another part of the city, for example, there is nothing legally to stop them.But if a resident from a locked-down area wanted to go to a bar in another part of the city, for example, there is nothing legally to stop them.
Instead, the government hopes people's sense of civic responsibility will see them follow guidance to stay at home.Instead, the government hopes people's sense of civic responsibility will see them follow guidance to stay at home.
What has been said about the rest of the UK?What has been said about the rest of the UK?
A local lockdown was considered in Anglesey after an outbreak in June, Public Health Wales says, but it didn't happen.A local lockdown was considered in Anglesey after an outbreak in June, Public Health Wales says, but it didn't happen.
In Scotland, public health teams work for the NHS, rather than councils, and the Scottish Government says it is developing a "responsive system of community surveillance" at a national, regional and local level to identify outbreaks quickly.
In Northern Ireland, the government says that any potential clusters or outbreaks will be handled using "appropriate infection control" in line with its guidelines for handling any disease outbreak.In Northern Ireland, the government says that any potential clusters or outbreaks will be handled using "appropriate infection control" in line with its guidelines for handling any disease outbreak.