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Covid: New measures imposed on North West, Midlands and West Yorkshire Covid: New measures imposed on North West, Midlands and West Yorkshire
(32 minutes later)
Stricter measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 have come into force in Lancashire, Merseyside, parts of the Midlands and West Yorkshire.Stricter measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 have come into force in Lancashire, Merseyside, parts of the Midlands and West Yorkshire.
The new rules were announced on Friday amid a rise in cases.The new rules were announced on Friday amid a rise in cases.
The localised restrictions, which will affect 4.7m people, ban separate households from meeting each other at home or in private gardens.The localised restrictions, which will affect 4.7m people, ban separate households from meeting each other at home or in private gardens.
Pubs and restaurants must also shut early in Merseyside and Lancashire, excluding Blackpool.Pubs and restaurants must also shut early in Merseyside and Lancashire, excluding Blackpool.
New measures for the rest of England will be set out by the prime minister in the House of Commons later on Tuesday and he will address the nation in a live broadcast at 20:00 BST.New measures for the rest of England will be set out by the prime minister in the House of Commons later on Tuesday and he will address the nation in a live broadcast at 20:00 BST.
From Thursday all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues will have to close at 22:00. From Thursday, all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues will have to close at 22:00 and people in England should work from home "if they can".
What are the new rules?What are the new rules?
Residents are not allowed to socialise in their homes or private gardens in:Residents are not allowed to socialise in their homes or private gardens in:
Pubs must shut between 22:00 and 05:00 and offer table service only in:Pubs must shut between 22:00 and 05:00 and offer table service only in:
Residents are asked only to use public transport for "essential purposes" in:Residents are asked only to use public transport for "essential purposes" in:
Residents are asked to avoid attending amateur or semi-professional sports events as spectators in:Residents are asked to avoid attending amateur or semi-professional sports events as spectators in:
Support bubbles will not be affected by the new rules.Support bubbles will not be affected by the new rules.
What has the reaction been ? What has the reaction been?
William Lees-Jones - owner of Greater Manchester-based JW Lees brewery which employs more than 1,300 people - said the new measures were "absolutely devastating" and would "inevitably result in redundancies".William Lees-Jones - owner of Greater Manchester-based JW Lees brewery which employs more than 1,300 people - said the new measures were "absolutely devastating" and would "inevitably result in redundancies".
"All of our pubs had to be closed for 15 weeks and it was only last week we reopened the last one." "All of our pubs had to be closed for 15 weeks and it was only last week we reopened the last one," he said.
He said it was no coincidence Whitbread has announced plans to cut 6,000 jobs on the same day of the restrictions and called on the government to help. He said it was no coincide Whitbread announced plans to cut 6,000 jobs on the same day of the restrictions and called on the government to help.
Mr Lee-Jones said the furlough scheme should be extended as well as the cuts to VAT and business rates tax.Mr Lee-Jones said the furlough scheme should be extended as well as the cuts to VAT and business rates tax.
"There are three million people who work in the hospitality industry."There are three million people who work in the hospitality industry.
"If you're going to put the restrictions in place - you need to give us more help.""If you're going to put the restrictions in place - you need to give us more help."
He added: "Pubs are probably the safest place to be in the UK at this moment."He added: "Pubs are probably the safest place to be in the UK at this moment."
Tomas Maunier co-owner of Fazenda restaurant chain said they will take a "massive hit" by being forced to close early. Tomas Maunier, co-owner of Fazenda restaurant chain, said it would take a "massive hit" by being forced to close early.
"We are losing a full sitting across the sites - that is a lot of money.""We are losing a full sitting across the sites - that is a lot of money."
He said firm which has restaurants in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham was already struggling with restrictions to ensure social distancing. He said firm, which has restaurants in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham, was already struggling with restrictions to ensure social distancing.
While he said the furlough and Eat Out To Help Out scheme "has been amazing" landlords "need help". He said the furlough and Eat Out To Help Out scheme had "been amazing" but landlords "need help".
"We are taking all the pain. They are cutting opening hours... but we're not paying less rent." "We are taking all the pain. They are cutting opening hours... but we're not paying less rent.
Mr Maunier added: "Closing earlier won't solve the big problem - people not following the guidelines at home." "Closing earlier won't solve the big problem - people not following the guidelines at home."
'Completely redundant'
Hannah Horner, co-owner of The Borough in Lancaster which has 38 staff, said it had been a "very tough" few months and her business had already "changed beyond all recognition".
She said she was unable to open her other pub, The Britannia as it was "too small for social distancing".
"The Borough has lost more than half its capacity and it has a completely redundant function room because we aren't having any functions," she said.
"Everyone I know in the sector just gets more and more anxious every day."
The former nurse said she understood the government had to "strike a balance between keeping the economy going and the health of the nation".
But she added: "You do wonder what difference [closing pubs early] is going to make to the bottom line of infections... and whether it will push people to house parties or socialise illegally."
Keith Haggis owner of Keiths Food & Wine Bar in Liverpool is also concerned.Keith Haggis owner of Keiths Food & Wine Bar in Liverpool is also concerned.
"We don't know what's going to happen. We normally close at midnight and people start coming in about 8 [o'clock] and might have bottle of wine or some beers. Will they come in earlier? We don't know."We don't know what's going to happen. We normally close at midnight and people start coming in about 8 [o'clock] and might have bottle of wine or some beers. Will they come in earlier? We don't know.
"It is going to be a problem persuading people to leave - we will have to stop serving drinks about 9.30pm?" "It is going to be a problem persuading people to leave - we will have to stop serving drinks about 9.30pm.
He said: "The furlough scheme kept us going but we don't have that now and we don't know how long these new restrictions will last. "The furlough scheme kept us going but we don't have that now and we don't know how long these new restrictions will last."
"If people like eating they usually like to linger for a coffee or a drink."
Further restrictionsFurther restrictions
Most parts of Greater Manchester - with the exception of Stockport and Wigan - as well as Preston, Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle in Lancashire are already subject to stricter restrictions .Most parts of Greater Manchester - with the exception of Stockport and Wigan - as well as Preston, Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle in Lancashire are already subject to stricter restrictions .
Bolton, which has the highest number of cases in the country, also brought in extra measures on 8 September, restricting restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs to takeaway only, and requiring all hospitality venues to close at 22:00.Bolton, which has the highest number of cases in the country, also brought in extra measures on 8 September, restricting restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs to takeaway only, and requiring all hospitality venues to close at 22:00.
People in Oldham, Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle in Lancashire should also not meet anyone from outside their household outdoors.People in Oldham, Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle in Lancashire should also not meet anyone from outside their household outdoors.
Last week, the government said these tightened restrictions in parts of Greater Manchester and Lancashire would continue.Last week, the government said these tightened restrictions in parts of Greater Manchester and Lancashire would continue.
Restrictions have also been brought in across large parts of north-east England.Restrictions have also been brought in across large parts of north-east England.
The government introduced the rule of six across England on 14 September.The government introduced the rule of six across England on 14 September.
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