skynewspolitics--2020-09-22--PM reveals new COVID rules on face masks, fines, pubs and working from home

Face masks will become compulsory for bar staff , shop workers , waiters and taxi drivers in an effort to combat the rise in coronavirus cases in England , the prime minister has announced .
Fines for failing to wear a face mask will rise to £200 and will be extended to customers when they are not seated at a table , Boris Johnson told MPs .
Watch and follow live on Sky News as Boris Johnson gives a Downing Street broadcast at 8pm Announcing the new coronavirus restrictions , the PM said the UK has reached a `` perilous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 and must `` act now to avoid still graver consequences later on '' .
He also warned that the measures could remain in place for as long as six months , declaring : `` For the time being , this virus is a fact of our lives . ''
The restrictions announced by the PM - who will address the nation from Number 10 later - are as follows : • Office workers should work from home again where possible - although workers in `` key public services and in all professions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as construction and retail , should continue to go in • From Thursday , all pubs , bars and restaurants must offer table service only and close at 10pm - but delivery services can remain open • The requirement to wear a face covering has been extended to staff in retail , people in taxis and everyone using hospitality services • Fines for not wearing a face covering will now double to £200 for a first offence • COVID-secure guidelines will become a legal obligation for retail , leisure and tourism firms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running the risk of fines of £10,000 or closure • Only 15 people can now attend weddings , but 30 can still go to a funeral • The `` rule of six '' has been extended to indoor sports teams , such as five-a-side football games • The phased reopening of stadiums for sporting events from 1 October has been scrapped But the PM has stopped short - for now - of introducing more sweeping and stringent measures to try and halt the rise in cases .
He acknowledged this in his Commons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to stress that this is by no means a return to the full lockdown of March .
We 're not issuing a general instruction to stay at home .
`` We will ensure that schools , colleges , universities stay open because nothing is more important than the education , health and well-being of our young people .
`` We will ensure businesses can stay open in a COVID-compliant way .
However we must take action to suppress the disease . ''
It had been suggested that proposals being worked on by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to schools and workplaces continuing , with restaurants and bars shut .
There was also speculation that Number 10 would ban different households from mixing .
Mr Johnson indicated that troops could be drafted in to free up the police in order to allow officers to focus on enforcing coronavirus rules .
A Number 10 spokesperson said this would involve the military `` backfilling certain duties '' , adding : `` This is not about providing any additional powers to the military , or them replacing the police in enforcement roles , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that while his party supported the latest measures , the public will be worried that the government `` does n't have a strategy '' .
`` One day people were encouraged to work in the office , in fact more than encouraged , they were openly challenged by the prime minister for not doing so , today they 're told the opposite .
`` This is a time of national crisis but we need clear leadership . ''
He called for an extension of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the SNP 's Westminster leader Ian Blackford .
`` Prime minister do not throw workers on the scrap-heap through no fault of their own , '' he urged Mr Johnson .
Taking questions from MPs after his statement , Mr Johnson confirmed that they would have an opportunity to debate the new measures next week .
And he said that ministers will review the restrictions if the public can `` do what they did before '' in helping get the spread of the virus under control .
The devolved administrations in Scotland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take their own measures in the fight against coronavirus .
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to announce further restrictions shortly , while people in Northern Ireland have already been banned from mixing with other households indoors .
In Wales , around a third of the population are currently under a form of local lockdown .
The new restrictions come after the COVID-19 alert level was raised from three to four , meaning there is now a high or rising level of transmission .
The government 's chief scientific adviser has warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases every day within weeks unless action is taken to drive down the rate of infection .
This would translate to `` 200-plus deaths a day '' by mid-November , Sir Patrick Vallance said .
Mr Johnson has insisted he does not want to put the country into a second national lockdown and will be hoping the latest measures are enough to turn the tide .
But despite there being no national lockdown like the one seen in March , some 13.5 million people across the UK are currently living under some form @ @ @ @

Face masks will become compulsory for bar staff, shop workers, waiters and taxi passengers in an effort to combat the rise in coronavirus cases in England, the prime minister has announced.
Fines for failing to wear a face mask will rise to £200 and will be extended to customers when they are not seated at a table, Boris Johnson told MPs.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:47 PM: New restrictions could last 'six months'
Announcing the new coronavirus restrictions, the PM said the UK had reached a "perilous turning point" in its fight against COVID-19 and needed to "act now to avoid still graver consequences later on".
He also warned that the measures could remain in place for as long as six months, declaring: "For the time being, this virus is a fact of our lives."
The restrictions announced by the PM - who will address the nation from Number 10 later - are as follows:
Office workers should work from home again where possible - although those in "key public services and in all professions" where this is not possible, such as construction and retail, should continue to go in. Mr Johnson later said that people should keep going in if it is important for their job, mental health or wellbeing
From Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants must offer table service only and close at 10pm - but delivery services can remain open
The requirement to wear a face covering has been extended to staff in retail, people in taxis and everyone using hospitality services
Fines for not wearing a face covering will now double to £200 for a first offence
COVID-secure guidelines will become a legal obligation for retail, leisure and tourism firms, with those who do not comply running the risk of fines of £10,000 or closure
Only 15 people can now attend weddings, but 30 can still go to a funeral
The "rule of six" has been extended to indoor sports teams, such as five-a-side football games
The phased reopening of stadiums for sporting events from 1 October has been scrapped
But the PM has stopped short - for now - of introducing more sweeping and stringent measures to try and halt the rise in cases.
He acknowledged this in his Commons address, telling MPs: "I want to stress that this is by no means a return to the full lockdown of March. We're not issuing a general instruction to stay at home.
"We will ensure that schools, colleges, universities stay open because nothing is more important than the education, health and well-being of our young people."
It had been suggested that proposals being worked on by Downing Street could have seen essential travel to schools and workplaces continuing, with restaurants and bars shut.
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There was also speculation that Number 10 would ban different households from mixing.
Mr Johnson indicated that troops could be drafted in to free up police, in order to allow officers to focus on enforcing coronavirus rules.
A Number 10 spokesperson said this would involve the military "backfilling certain duties", adding: "This is not about providing any additional powers to the military, or them replacing the police in enforcement roles, and they will not be handing out fines."
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that while his party supported the latest measures, the public would be worried that the government "doesn't have a strategy".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:43 Starmer: 'Testing system isn't working'
"One day people were encouraged to work in the office, in fact more than encouraged, they were openly challenged by the prime minister for not doing so, today they're told the opposite," he said.
"This is a time of national crisis but we need clear leadership."
He called for an extension of the furlough scheme, a demand echoed by the SNP's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford.
Taking questions from MPs after his statement, Mr Johnson confirmed that they would have an opportunity to debate the new measures next week.
And he said that ministers would review the restrictions if the public can "do what they did before" in helping get the spread of the virus under control.
The PM also accused Labour of blaming the issues with the government's test and trace system for the resurgence of cases.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:01 Gove 'encourages' working from home
"Testing and tracing has very little or nothing to do with the spread or the transmission of the disease," he said in response to a question from Barnsley East MP Stephanie Peacock, who accused Mr Johnson of failing to set up an "effective" system.
The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are able to take their own measures and move at a different pace if they so choose.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has gone further than the PM, announcing a ban on households visits in Scotland from Wednesday.
People in Northern Ireland have already been banned from mixing with other households indoors.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said "many of the things the prime minister is talking about doing today, we have already done in Wales".
"Very early on, we put the two-metre distance in the workplace into our regulations - it's not been in guidance in Wales, it's been a legal obligation on employers," Mr Drakeford told the Welsh parliament.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:29 Wetherspoons boss slams 'mad' curfew
"The prime minister is going to tighten the rule of six. Well, our rule of six has been tighter all along - you can only meet somebody from your extended household."
The new restrictions come after the COVID-19 alert level was raised from three to four, meaning there is now a high or rising level of transmission.
The government's chief scientific adviser has warned that the UK could see 49,000 new cases every day within weeks unless action is taken to drive down the rate of infection.
This would translate to "200-plus deaths a day" by mid-November, Sir Patrick Vallance said.
Mr Johnson has insisted he does not want to put the country into a second national lockdown and will be hoping the latest measures are enough to turn the tide.
But despite there being no national lockdown like the one seen in March, some 13.5 million people across the UK are currently living under some form of local restrictions.


skynewspolitics--2020-09-22--'Jokers': Pubs bosses insist early shutdown won't help cut coronavirus rates

Boris Johnson 's 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants are being roundly criticised by the hospitality industry , with one pub boss describing the government as `` jokers '' who are `` ruining the country '' .
The new measures are set to be enforced from Thursday across England , amid concerns there is less compliance with social distancing rules late at night .
JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin told Ian King Live that the decision would cost jobs .
And the chief executive of Fuller 's , Simon Emeny , described the plans as unnecessary and `` draconian '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foot a greater bill .
Watch and follow live on Sky News as Boris Johnson gives an address from Downing Street at 8pm Industry bosses gave their reaction to the plans as Wetherspoon 's and Premier Inn-owner Whitbread announced proposals for significant jobs losses ahead of the PM 's statement to MPs which confirmed 10pm curfews .
News of tougher measures also prompted a backlash from a major industry lobby group .
Kate Nicholls , the chief executive of UKHospitality argued such an approach would make it harder to control the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that suggests 5 % of infections are linked to hospitality venues .
She said : `` These restrictions will come as another crushing blow for many hospitality businesses struggling to recover so it 's crucial these new rules are applied with flexibility .
`` A hard close time is bad for business and bad for controlling the virus - we need to allow time for people to disperse over a longer period . ''
Ms Nicholls also claimed that similar measures enforced in local lockdowns have failed to reduce infection rates and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She is now calling for a support package to be targeted towards the hospitality sector , and said the government must `` recognise this will damage confidence even further '' and cause the sector to struggle long into next year .
`` We need to see an early signal that the VAT cut will be extended through to the end of 2021 , that the business rates holiday will continue next year , and an enhanced employment support package specifically for hospitality , '' she added .
: : Subscribe to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker The Institute of Economic Affairs echoed criticism of the plans , which will also ban people from ordering at the bar in venues .
The right-wing think tank 's head of lifestyle economics , Christopher Snowdon , said : `` While mandatory table service has been part of the successful Swedish approach and may have merit , the new closing time will be devastating to a hospitality sector that was already suffering after the first lockdown .
`` The government should publish the evidence upon which this decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to give a TV address to the nation tonight , in which he will explain the range of new measures to tackle the dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases .

Boris Johnson's 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants are being roundly criticised by the hospitality industry, with one pub boss describing the government as "jokers" who are "ruining the country".
The new measures are set to be enforced from Thursday across England, amid concerns there is less compliance with social distancing rules late at night.
JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin told Ian King Live that the decision would cost jobs.
And the chief executive of Fuller's, Simon Emeny, described the plans as unnecessary and "draconian" - warning the taxpayer would have to foot a greater bill.
Industry bosses gave their reaction to the plans as Wetherspoon's and Premier Inn-owner Whitbread announced proposals for significant jobs losses ahead of the PM's statement to MPs which confirmed 10pm curfews.
News of tougher measures also prompted a backlash from a major industry lobby group.
Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality argued such an approach would make it harder to control the spread of coronavirus - and pointed to government data that suggests 5% of infections are linked to hospitality venues.
She said: "These restrictions will come as another crushing blow for many hospitality businesses struggling to recover so it's crucial these new rules are applied with flexibility.
"A hard close time is bad for business and bad for controlling the virus - we need to allow time for people to disperse over a longer period."
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Ms Nicholls also claimed that similar measures enforced in local lockdowns have failed to reduce infection rates and "merely damaged businesses and cost jobs".
She is now calling for a support package to be targeted towards the hospitality sector, and said the government must "recognise this will damage confidence even further" and cause the sector to struggle long into next year.
"We need to see an early signal that the VAT cut will be extended through to the end of 2021, that the business rates holiday will continue next year, and an enhanced employment support package specifically for hospitality," she added.
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The Institute of Economic Affairs echoed criticism of the plans, which will also ban people from ordering at the bar in venues.
The right-wing think tank's head of lifestyle economics, Christopher Snowdon, said: "While mandatory table service has been part of the successful Swedish approach and may have merit, the new closing time will be devastating to a hospitality sector that was already suffering after the first lockdown.
"The government should publish the evidence upon which this decision was based."
Mr Johnson is set to give a TV address to the nation tonight, in which he will explain the range of new measures to tackle the dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases.


skynewspolitics--2020-09-22--Second full lockdown would be 'government failure - not an act of God'

A second coronavirus lockdown would be a `` government failure - not an act of god '' , Sir Keir Starmer has said .
The drastic action could take an `` immense toll on people 's physical and mental health and on the economy '' , the Labour leader warned .
Speaking ahead of Boris Johnson 's statement unveilling new measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 , Sir Keir accused him of having `` lost control '' of the testing system .
The prime minister is `` just not serious '' , he added in his first speech to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtually because of coronavirus .
`` I 've tried to be constructive , '' Sir Keir said .
`` I appreciate that these are unprecedented times and that governing is difficult .
`` I 've tried to be fair , to give the government the benefit of the doubt .
`` But now , with one of the highest death rates in the world , and on the threshold of one of the deepest recessions anywhere , I 'm afraid there is no doubt .
Sir Keir put winning the next election and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corbyn at the heart of his speech - delivered in front of a red wall in Doncaster .
The location was significant as Labour lost one of the city 's three MPs to the Conservatives ' landslide at the last election - part of the crumbling of its `` red wall '' across swathes of northern England .
`` When you lose an election in a democracy , you deserve to , '' Sir Keir said .
`` You do n't look at the electorate and ask them : 'What were you thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask : 'What were we doing ? '
'' Sir Keir added past failed Labour leaders had `` granted the Tories a decade of power '' and told activists `` it 's time to get serious about winning '' .
He highlighted the party is under `` new leadership '' and burnished his patriotic credentials , finishing his speech saying : `` We love this country as you do .
This is the country I grew up in and this is the country I will grow old in .
And I want it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be . ''
And on Brexit Sir Keir tried to distance himself from Tory attacks about his pro-EU stance as Mr Corbyn 's shadow Brexit secretary .
He insisted `` the debate between Leave and Remain is over '' and Labour will not `` keep banging on about Europe '' , adding the prime minister will `` fail Britain '' if there is no trade deal clinched with Brussels .
Responding , the Conservatives said : `` Sir Keir Starmer proclaimed himself Labour 's new leadership , in his first conference speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be further from reality .
Sir Keir 's leadership is just more of the same old Labour .
`` He 's advanced Corbyn 's far-left economic plans and continually shown he does n't respect the views of ordinary people on crime , immigration and regaining our independence now we 've left the EU . ''
Watch and follow Sky News as Boris Johnson gives a Downing Street broadcast at 8pm

A second coronavirus lockdown would be a "government failure - not an act of god", Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The drastic action could take an "immense toll on people's physical and mental health and on the economy", the Labour leader warned.
Speaking ahead of Boris Johnson's statement unveilling new measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, Sir Keir accused him of having "lost control" of the testing system.
Image: Another lockdown would take an 'immense toll' on people, Sir Keir warned
The prime minister is "just not serious", he added in his first speech to Labour's party conference - being held virtually because of coronavirus.
"I've tried to be constructive," Sir Keir said.
"I appreciate that these are unprecedented times and that governing is difficult.
"I've tried to be fair, to give the government the benefit of the doubt.
Image: PM Boris Johnson will announce new restrictions later on Tuesday
"But now, with one of the highest death rates in the world, and on the threshold of one of the deepest recessions anywhere, I'm afraid there is no doubt.
"This government's incompetence is holding Britain back."
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Sir Keir put winning the next election and a clear distinction between him and Jeremy Corbyn at the heart of his speech - delivered in front of a red wall in Doncaster.
The location was significant as Labour lost one of the city's three MPs to the Conservatives' landslide at the last election - part of the crumbling of its "red wall" across swathes of northern England.
"When you lose an election in a democracy, you deserve to," Sir Keir said.
"You don't look at the electorate and ask them: 'What were you thinking?' You look at yourself and ask: 'What were we doing?'"
Image: The Labour leader delivered his speech in front of a red wall
Sir Keir added past failed Labour leaders had "granted the Tories a decade of power" and told activists "it's time to get serious about winning".
He highlighted the party is under "new leadership" and burnished his patriotic credentials, finishing his speech saying: "We love this country as you do. This is the country I grew up in and this is the country I will grow old in. And I want it to be the country I know it can be."
And on Brexit Sir Keir tried to distance himself from Tory attacks about his pro-EU stance as Mr Corbyn's shadow Brexit secretary.
Image: Labour will not 'keep banging on about Europe', Sir Keir said
He insisted "the debate between Leave and Remain is over" and Labour will not "keep banging on about Europe", adding the prime minister will "fail Britain" if there is no trade deal clinched with Brussels.
Responding, the Conservatives said: "Sir Keir Starmer proclaimed himself Labour's new leadership, in his first conference speech this morning.
Image: The Tories said Sir Keir 'advanced' Mr Corbyn's plans in the shadow cabinet
"But nothing could be further from reality. Sir Keir's leadership is just more of the same old Labour.
"He's advanced Corbyn's far-left economic plans and continually shown he doesn't respect the views of ordinary people on crime, immigration and regaining our independence now we've left the EU."


skynewspolitics--2020-09-22--Mix 200 times more hydrogen into household gas to cut carbon emissions, govt told

The government should allow 200 times more hydrogen to be mixed into household gas to reduce carbon emissions , the UK 's largest gas distribution networks has said .
Cadent says the move would see carbon emissions , produced from items including household boilers and cookers , cut by six million tonnes a year .
In the joint report with the Energy Networks Association , Cadent said household appliances were able to operate with 20 % of the gas in a grid being hydrogen , rather than the traditionally used methane .
The company said the plan could help the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and would save households from having to replace appliances .
Chris Train , leading the Gas Goes Green initiative at the Energy Networks Association , said : `` If the government is serious about hydrogen , then it needs to ensure that is also thinking about how we deliver it .
`` That 's where Britain 's world-leading gas networks come in .
This report clearly demonstrates we 've got the know-how and the expertise to start safely blending large quantities of hydrogen into Britain 's gas grid . ''
Experts have previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be blended into the existing gas networks safely , with Cadent and other networks currently only allowing use of 0.1 % .
However , the carbon savings would depend on how the hydrogen is made .
Most of the hydrogen in the world is currently produced using methane and transforming it through a process called steam methane reformation - which is not carbon neutral as it produces carbon dioxide .
Cadent suggests capturing the carbon dioxide and then storing it to prevent it from entering the atmosphere .
: : A New Climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sky News Daily .
Listen on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker It says another possibility to make the process environmentally friendly would involve splitting water molecules into their individual components - hydrogen and oxygen - which would release oxygen into the air .
When the hydrogen molecule is later burned , it will react with oxygen in the air , forming water again .
Jacob Young MP , chair of the all-party group on hydrogen , said : `` Hydrogen has the potential to play a major role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , and offers a compelling pathway towards supporting the decarbonisation of heating , transport and industrial processes . ''

The government should allow 200 times more hydrogen to be mixed into household gas to reduce carbon emissions, the UK's largest gas distribution network has said.
Cadent says the move would see carbon emissions, produced from items including household boilers and cookers, cut by six million tonnes a year.
In the joint report with the Energy Networks Association, Cadent said household appliances were able to operate with 20% of the gas in a grid being hydrogen, rather than the traditionally used methane.
The company said the plan could help the UK become carbon neutral by 2050, and would save households from having to replace appliances.
Chris Train, leading the Gas Goes Green initiative at the Energy Networks Association, said: "If the government is serious about hydrogen, then it needs to ensure that is also thinking about how we deliver it.
"That's where Britain's world-leading gas networks come in. This report clearly demonstrates we've got the know-how and the expertise to start safely blending large quantities of hydrogen into Britain's gas grid."
Experts have previously been conflicted on how much hydrogen can be blended into the existing gas networks safely, with Cadent and other networks currently only allowing use of 0.1%.
However, the carbon savings would depend on how the hydrogen is made.
Most of the hydrogen in the world is currently produced using methane and transforming it through a process called steam methane reformation - which is not carbon neutral as it produces carbon dioxide.
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Cadent suggests capturing the carbon dioxide and then storing it to prevent it from entering the atmosphere.
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It says another possibility to make the process environmentally friendly would involve splitting water molecules into their individual components - hydrogen and oxygen - which would release oxygen into the air.
When the hydrogen molecule is later burned, it will react with oxygen in the air, forming water again.
Jacob Young MP, chair of the all-party group on hydrogen, said: "Hydrogen has the potential to play a major role in the UK's economic recovery from COVID-19, and offers a compelling pathway towards supporting the decarbonisation of heating, transport and industrial processes."


skynewspolitics--2020-09-22--PM urges Britons to 'summon the discipline' to avoid second lockdown

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Britons to `` summon the discipline and the resolve '' to avoid a second national lockdown after warning there have been `` too many breaches '' of coronavirus rules .
In a televised address to the nation , Mr Johnson called on the public to `` get through this winter together '' as he set out a series of new COVID-19 restrictions - including earlier closing times for pubs , bars and restaurants .
Asking for compliance with the fresh measures , he said : `` Never in our history has our collective destiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our individual behaviour . ''
The prime minister admitted that coronavirus had `` started to spread again in an exponential way '' and sent a stark warning of `` many more deaths '' if action was not taken now .
Describing the disease as `` the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime '' , Mr Johnson said that he knew the UK could succeed in pushing back the virus `` because we have succeeded before '' .
However , faced with a second wave of infections , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast majority have complied with the rules there have been too many breaches - too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected '' .
He said that his government would continue to work `` night and day '' to fight to protect the public .
But he stressed the `` single greatest weapon we bring to this fight is the common sense of the people themselves - the joint resolve of this country to work together to suppress COVID now '' .
The prime minister dismissed suggestions that people should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with coronavirus , adding : `` The tragic reality of having COVID is that your mild cough can be someone else 's death knell . ''
He also rejected the idea that only the elderly might isolate themselves from the risk of catching the disease .
`` If you let the virus rip through the rest of the population it would inevitably find its way through to the elderly as well , and in much greater numbers , '' Mr Johnson said .
The prime minister admitted he was `` deeply , spiritually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had set out earlier in the day and warned that a new national lockdown would `` threaten not just jobs and livelihoods but the loving human contact on which we all depend '' .
`` We must do all we can to avoid going down that road again , '' Mr Johnson added .
But he insisted that `` if people do n't follow the rules we have set out , then we must reserve the right to go further '' .
The prime minister offered some optimism with his assertion that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before '' for a fresh wave of coronavirus infections .
And he declared that scientists were `` unanimous that things will be far better by the spring '' when there are hopes of a vaccine and of mass testing system .
Yet the government was acting now to impose further restrictions because `` a stitch in time saves nine '' , Mr Johnson said .
`` If we follow these simple rules together , we will get through this winter together , '' he concluded .
`` There are unquestionably difficult months to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by no means over .
`` I have no doubt , however , that there are great days ahead .
`` But now is the time for us all to summon the discipline , and the resolve , and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through . ''
The prime minister 's TV address was his third to the nation since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis .
It came on the same day that another 4,926 people were confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK - the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A further 37 people have also died within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19 - the highest number reported in one day since 14 July .
Earlier on Tuesday , Mr Johnson had announced the new COVID-19 restrictions for England in a statement to the House of Commons .
• Asking office workers to work from home again where possible - although those in key public services and in all professions where this is not possible , such as construction and retail , should continue to attend their workplaces • From Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must offer table service only and close at 10pm - but delivery services can remain open • The requirement to wear a face covering has been extended to staff in retail , people in taxis and everyone using hospitality services , except when sitting down to eat or drink • Fines for not wearing a face covering will now double to £200 for a first offence • COVID-secure guidelines will become a legal obligation for retail , leisure and tourism firms , with those who do not comply running the risk of fines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a maximum of only 15 people will be allowed to attend weddings , but 30 can still go to a funeral • The `` rule of six '' has been extended to indoor sports , such as five-a-side football games • The phased reopening of stadiums for sporting events from 1 October has been scrapped .
Speaking to MPs , the prime minister warned the new measures could last six months .
But he stressed it was `` by no means a return to the full lockdown of March '' and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , colleges and universities open .
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon went further than Mr Johnson by announcing a ban on people visiting other households inside their homes in Scotland .
She also revealed the Scottish government is keeping the possibility of a time-limited `` circuit breaker '' lockdown under review .
In her own TV address on Tuesday night , Ms Sturgeon stressed that , without a COVID-19 vaccine , `` we simply ca n't have 100 % normality - no country can '' .
She said the challenge of coronavirus `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged that the announcement of new Scotland-wide measures `` must feel like a step backwards '' .
But she added : `` I know it does n't feel like it now , but this virus will pass .
It wo n't last forever and one day , hopefully soon , we will be looking back on it , not living through it . ''
Northern Ireland had already announced the banning of different households mixing indoors , albeit with some exceptions .
In her own public address , Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to act '' but offered a reassurance that `` despite all the headlines , this is not a second lockdown '' .
`` This is a wakeup call , a reminder that we are not out of the woods , '' she said .
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said Northern Ireland 's leaders were `` sounding the alarm bells loud and clear throughout our society '' .
In Wales , hospitality businesses will also have to provide table service only and close at 10pm , while all off-licences and supermarkets will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Minister Mark Drakeford said : `` This is a highly infectious virus , we can not let it take a hold of our lives again - we have come too far to let that happen . ''

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Britons to "summon the discipline and the resolve" to avoid a second national lockdown after warning there have been "too many breaches" of coronavirus rules.
In a televised address to the nation, Mr Johnson called on the public to "get through this winter together" as he set out a series of new COVID-19 restrictions - including earlier closing times for pubs, bars and restaurants.
Asking for compliance with the fresh measures, he said: "Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour."
The prime minister admitted that coronavirus had "started to spread again in an exponential way" and sent a stark warning of "many more deaths" if action was not taken now.
Describing the disease as "the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime", Mr Johnson said that he knew the UK could succeed in pushing back the virus "because we have succeeded before".
However, faced with a second wave of infections, the prime minister acknowledged that "while the vast majority have complied with the rules there have been too many breaches - too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected".
He said that his government would continue to work "night and day" to fight to protect the public.
But he stressed the "single greatest weapon we bring to this fight is the common sense of the people themselves - the joint resolve of this country to work together to suppress COVID now".
The prime minister dismissed suggestions that people should be allowed to take their own risks with coronavirus, adding: "The tragic reality of having COVID is that your mild cough can be someone else's death knell."
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He also rejected the idea that only the elderly might isolate themselves from the risk of catching the disease.
"If you let the virus rip through the rest of the population it would inevitably find its way through to the elderly as well, and in much greater numbers," Mr Johnson said.
The prime minister admitted he was "deeply, spiritually reluctant" to impose the further restrictions he had set out earlier in the day and warned that a new national lockdown would "threaten not just jobs and livelihoods but the loving human contact on which we all depend".
"We must do all we can to avoid going down that road again," Mr Johnson added.
But he insisted that "if people don't follow the rules we have set out, then we must reserve the right to go further".
The prime minister offered some optimism with his assertion that the country is "better prepared than before" for a fresh wave of coronavirus infections.
And he declared that scientists were "unanimous that things will be far better by the spring" when there are hopes of a vaccine and of a mass testing system.
Yet the government was acting now to impose further restrictions because "a stitch in time saves nine", Mr Johnson said.
"If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together," he concluded.
"There are unquestionably difficult months to come and the fight against COVID is by no means over.
"I have no doubt, however, that there are great days ahead.
"But now is the time for us all to summon the discipline, and the resolve, and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through."
The prime minister's TV address was his third to the nation since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis.
It came on the same day that another 4,926 people were confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK - the highest daily figure since 7 May.
A further 37 people have also died within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19 - the highest number reported in one day since 14 July.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:24 PM: New restrictions could last 'six months'
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Johnson had announced the new COVID-19 restrictions for England in a statement to the House of Commons.
These include:
Asking office workers to work from home again where possible - although those in key public services and in all professions where this is not possible, such as construction and retail, should continue to attend their workplaces
From Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants must offer table service only and close at 10pm - but delivery services can remain open
The requirement to wear a face covering has been extended to staff in retail, people in taxis and everyone using hospitality services, except when sitting down to eat or drink
Fines for not wearing a face covering will now double to £200 for a first offence
COVID-secure guidelines will become a legal obligation for retail, leisure and tourism firms, with those who do not comply running the risk of fines of £10,000 or closure
From Monday, a maximum of only 15 people will be allowed to attend weddings, but 30 can still go to a funeral
The "rule of six" has been extended to indoor sports, such as five-a-side football games
The phased reopening of stadiums for sporting events from 1 October has been scrapped.
Speaking to MPs, the prime minister warned the new measures could last six months.
But he stressed it was "by no means a return to the full lockdown of March" and that the government was committed to keeping schools, colleges and universities open.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon went further than Mr Johnson by announcing a ban on people visiting other households inside their homes in Scotland.
She also revealed the Scottish government is keeping the possibility of a time-limited "circuit breaker" lockdown under review.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:18 'Let's pull together': Sturgeon addresses Scotland
In her own TV address on Tuesday night, Ms Sturgeon stressed that, without a COVID-19 vaccine, "we simply can't have 100% normality - no country can".
She said the challenge of coronavirus "is once again getting harder" and acknowledged that the announcement of new Scotland-wide measures "must feel like a step backwards".
But she added: "I know it doesn't feel like it now, but this virus will pass. It won't last forever and one day, hopefully soon, we will be looking back on it, not living through it."
Northern Ireland had already announced the banning of different households mixing indoors, albeit with some exceptions.
In her own public address, Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster said there was a "need to act" but offered a reassurance that "despite all the headlines, this is not a second lockdown".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:52 Drakeford urges Welsh public to follow new virus rules
"This is a wakeup call, a reminder that we are not out of the woods," she said.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said Northern Ireland's leaders were "sounding the alarm bells loud and clear throughout our society".
In Wales, hospitality businesses will also have to provide table service only and close at 10pm, while all off-licences and supermarkets will have to stop selling alcohol at 10pm.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "This is a highly infectious virus, we cannot let it take a hold of our lives again - we have come too far to let that happen."


skynewspolitics--2020-09-22--Safety-first approach ditched as PM embarks on very difficult tightrope act

When I asked a senior minister who knows Boris Johnson well last week how he approaches COVID-19 , they told me the prime minister takes a `` safety-first '' approach .
`` He 's in a very difficult situation because it all rests on his shoulders .
His instinct is to keep the virus under tight control .
If there 's a spike it 's on him . ''
And yet on Tuesday , after days of speculation that tough restrictions were imminent , the prime minister appeared to take some risk .
Instead of just following the recommendations from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp `` circuit-break '' in order to try to slow the transmission of the virus , the prime minister opted for an altogether lighter set of measures .
Asking bars to close at 10pm and office workers to once more work from home and more stringent use of masks , the most significant part of the speech was n't the package of measures but rather the length of time they could be in place ( six months until the spring ) .
How did Mr Johnson arrive at this point after days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political advisers ?
It is , if you like , a departure from the safety-first approach that has governed Mr Johnson 's approach to handling COVID-19 these past six months to a rather nuanced approach in which the prime minister tries to walk the tightrope in controlling the spread of the virus while also trying to keep the economy open .
He said much the same himself in the Commons : `` We are taking decisive and appropriate steps to balance saving lives with protecting jobs and livelihoods '' .
And it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the black door at Number 10 even a few days ago as insiders whispered about the need to potentially bring in a short period of very heavy restrictions - the so-called circuit break - to reduce our social activity ( perhaps by closing the hospitality sector and banning household mixing ) and reduce transmission .
The evidence presented by scientists pointed to social interactions and household transmission as being the main spreaders of the disease rather than COVID-secure workplaces - and so it was the hospitality sector and our social lives that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) change .
But if the question posed was whether to introduce tough restrictions in order to hammer down the virus now , the answer arrived at over days of debate was 'no ' .
The financial and longer-term social costs of turning off economic activity for two to three weeks were just too great .
`` We hope we can reset people 's behaviour without a circuit break , '' said one Number 10 figure .
`` These measures are trying to do that with as little economic impact as possible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister 's safety-first approach , a reflection perhaps of the reality that as this pandemic grinds the economic as well as health problems are piling up .
A reflection of the growing anxiety from a Treasury looking down the barrel of recession , a huge debt mountain and mass joblessness and a restive Conservative Party concerned about the public finances as well as people 's liberties .
What the prime minister 's tried to do , say those around him , is find a compromise of imposing lighter measures with the caveat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the R number continues to rise , tougher policies will come into force .
It is , says one insider , `` the last chance saloon '' .
Nicola Sturgeon has chosen a different route , taking a safety-first approach for the people in Scotland and more closely following her own scientific advisors who said the prime minister 's measures were `` not sufficient '' enough to bring the transmission rates down .
Time will tell who was right and who was wrong .
: : Subscribe to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Spreaker The virus has n't changed but Mr Johnson 's approach to it has .
He has charted a new course through this second wave as he walks that tightrope between keeping the economy as open as possible and the virus in check .
There will be lots of voices saying he 's gone too far and lots of others saying he 's not gone far enough .
And as for the prime minister himself , there is no guarantee he can pull it off .
Success depends not just on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether we all decide to follow .
Everyone has a part to play in getting through this crisis , but Boris Johnson bears more responsibility than anyone else .
The decisions he is making now will prove pivotal - not just for the country but for his premiership too .

When I asked a senior minister who knows Boris Johnson well last week how he approaches COVID-19, they told me the prime minister takes a "safety-first" approach.
"He's in a very difficult situation because it all rests on his shoulders. His instinct is to keep the virus under tight control. If there's a spike it's on him."
And yet on Tuesday, after days of speculation that tough restrictions were imminent, the prime minister appeared to take some risk.
Instead of just following the recommendations from his Scientific Advisory Group for a short sharp "circuit-break" in order to try to slow the transmission of the virus, the prime minister opted for an altogether lighter set of measures.
Asking bars to close at 10pm and office workers to once more work from home and more stringent use of masks, the most significant part of the speech wasn't the package of measures but rather the length of time they could be in place (six months until the spring).
How did Mr Johnson arrive at this point after days of deliberation with his scientific, economic and political advisers?
It is, if you like, a departure from the safety-first approach that has governed Mr Johnson's approach to handling COVID-19 these past six months to a rather nuanced approach in which the prime minister tries to walk the tightrope in controlling the spread of the virus while also trying to keep the economy open.
He said much the same himself in the Commons: "We are taking decisive and appropriate steps to balance saving lives with protecting jobs and livelihoods."
And it is quite a departure from the talk behind the black door at Number 10 even a few days ago as insiders whispered about the need to potentially bring in a short period of very heavy restrictions - the so-called circuit break - to reduce our social activity (perhaps by closing the hospitality sector and banning household mixing) and reduce transmission.
Advertisement
The evidence presented by scientists pointed to social interactions and household transmission as being the main spreaders of the disease rather than COVID-secure workplaces - and so it was the hospitality sector and our social lives that could require some quite drastic (if short-lived) change.
But if the question posed was whether to introduce tough restrictions in order to hammer down the virus now, the answer arrived at over days of debate was "no".
The financial and longer-term social costs of turning off economic activity for two to three weeks were just too great.
"We hope we can reset people's behaviour without a circuit break," said one Number 10 figure. "These measures are trying to do that with as little economic impact as possible."
It is a departure from the prime minister's safety-first approach, a reflection perhaps of the reality that as this pandemic grinds the economic as well as health problems are piling up.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:18 'Let's pull together': Sturgeon addresses Scotland
A reflection of the growing anxiety from a Treasury looking down the barrel of recession, a huge debt mountain and mass joblessness and a restive Conservative Party concerned about the public finances as well as people's liberties.
What the prime minister's tried to do, say those around him, is find a compromise of imposing lighter measures with the caveat that if people don't comply and the R number continues to rise, tougher policies will come into force.
It is, says one insider, "the last chance saloon".
Nicola Sturgeon has chosen a different route, taking a safety-first approach for the people in Scotland and more closely following her own scientific advisers who said the prime minister's measures were "not sufficient" enough to bring the transmission rates down.
Time will tell who was right and who was wrong.
:: Subscribe to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
The virus hasn't changed but Mr Johnson's approach to it has. He has charted a new course through this second wave as he walks that tightrope between keeping the economy as open as possible and the virus in check.
There will be lots of voices saying he's gone too far and lots of others saying he's not gone far enough. And as for the prime minister himself, there is no guarantee he can pull it off.
Success depends not just on the decision of our leaders but also on whether we all decide to follow.
Everyone has a part to play in getting through this crisis, but Boris Johnson bears more responsibility than anyone else.
The decisions he is making now will prove pivotal - not just for the country but for his premiership too.


skynewspolitics--2020-09-22--In full: PM's Downing Street speech on coronavirus

Good evening , the struggle against COVID is the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime .
In less than a year this disease has killed almost a million people , and caused havoc to economies everywhere .
Here in the UK we mourn every person we have lost , and we grieve with their families .
And yet I am more certain than ever that this is a struggle that humanity will win , and we in this country will win - and to achieve what we must - I want to talk to you directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - none of them easy - and why we must take action now .
I know that we can succeed because we have succeeded before .
When the sickness took hold in this country in March , we pulled together in a spirit of national sacrifice and community .
We followed the guidance to the letter .
We stayed at home , protected the NHS , and saved thousands of lives .
And for months with those disciplines of social distancing we have kept that virus at bay .
But we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ; and while the vast majority have complied with the rules there have been too many breaches - too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected .
The virus has started to spread again in an exponential way .
Infections are up , hospital admissions are climbing .
We can see what is happening in France and Spain , and we know , alas , that this virus is no less fatal than it was in the spring , and that the vast majority of our people are no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of geometrical progression are shouting at us from the graphs that we risk many more deaths , many more families losing loved ones before their time .
And I know that faced with that risk the British people will want their government to continue to fight to protect them , you , and that is what we are doing , night and day .
And yet the single greatest weapon we bring to this fight is the common sense of the people themselves - the joint resolve of this country to work together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I set out a package of tougher measures in England - early closing for pubs , bars ; table service only ; closing businesses that are not COVID-secure ; expanding the use of face coverings , and new fines for those that fail to comply .
And once again asking office workers to work from home if they can while enforcing the rule of six indoors and outdoors - a tougher package of national measures combined with the potential for tougher local restrictions for areas already in lockdown .
I know that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carries the support of all the main parties in parliament .
After discussion with colleagues in the devolved administrations , I believe this broad approach is shared across the whole UK .
And to those who say we do n't need this stuff , and we should leave people to take their own risks , I say these risks are not our own .
The tragic reality of having COVID is that your mild cough can be someone else 's death knell .
And as for the suggestion that we should simply lock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with all the suffering that would entail - I must tell you that this is just not realistic , because if you let the virus rip through the rest of the population it would inevitably find its way through to the elderly as well , and in much greater numbers .
That 's why we need to suppress the virus now , and as for that minority who may continue to flout the rules , we will enforce those rules with tougher penalties and fines of up to £10,000 .
We will put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use the Army to backfill if necessary .
And of course I am deeply , spiritually reluctant to make any of these impositions , or infringe anyone 's freedom , but unless we take action the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later , when the deaths have already mounted and we have a huge caseload of infection such as we had in the spring .
If we let this virus get out of control now , it would mean that our NHS had no space - once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and millions of other non-COVID medical needs .
And if we were forced into a new national lockdown , that would threaten not just jobs and livelihoods but the loving human contact on which we all depend .
It would mean renewed loneliness and confinement for the elderly and vulnerable , and ultimately it would threaten once again the education of our children .
We must do all we can to avoid going down that road again .
But if people do n't follow the rules we have set out , then we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We must take action now because a stitch in time saves nine ; and this way we can keep people in work , we can keep our shops and our schools open , and we can keep our country moving forward while we work together to suppress the virus .
That is our strategy , and if we can follow this package together , then I know we can succeed because in so many ways we are better prepared than before .
We have the PPE ( personal protective equipment ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nightingales , we have new medicines - pioneered in this country - that can help save lives .
And though our doctors and our medical advisers are rightly worried about the data now , and the risks over winter , they are unanimous that things will be far better by the spring , when we have not only the hope of a vaccine , but one day soon - and I must stress that we are not there yet - of mass testing so efficient that people will be able to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more of the things they love .
That 's the hope ; that 's the dream .
It 's hard , but it 's attainable , and we are working as hard as we can to get there .
But until we do , we must rely on our willingness to look out for each other , to protect each other .
Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour .
If we follow these simple rules together , we will get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unquestionably difficult months to come .
And the fight against COVID is by no means over .
I have no doubt , however , that there are great days ahead .
But now is the time for us all to summon the discipline , and the resolve , and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through .

Good evening, the struggle against COVID is the single biggest crisis the world has faced in my lifetime.
In less than a year this disease has killed almost a million people, and caused havoc to economies everywhere.
Here in the UK we mourn every person we have lost, and we grieve with their families.
And yet I am more certain than ever that this is a struggle that humanity will win, and we in this country will win - and to achieve what we must - I want to talk to you directly tonight about the choices that we face - none of them easy - and why we must take action now.
I know that we can succeed because we have succeeded before.
When the sickness took hold in this country in March, we pulled together in a spirit of national sacrifice and community. We followed the guidance to the letter. We stayed at home, protected the NHS, and saved thousands of lives.
And for months with those disciplines of social distancing we have kept that virus at bay.
But we have to acknowledge this is a great and freedom-loving country; and while the vast majority have complied with the rules there have been too many breaches - too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected.
The virus has started to spread again in an exponential way. Infections are up, hospital admissions are climbing.
Advertisement
We can see what is happening in France and Spain, and we know, alas, that this virus is no less fatal than it was in the spring, and that the vast majority of our people are no less susceptible, and the iron laws of geometrical progression are shouting at us from the graphs that we risk many more deaths, many more families losing loved ones before their time.
And I know that faced with that risk the British people will want their government to continue to fight to protect them, you, and that is what we are doing, night and day.
And yet the single greatest weapon we bring to this fight is the common sense of the people themselves - the joint resolve of this country to work together to suppress COVID now.
So today I set out a package of tougher measures in England - early closing for pubs, bars; table service only; closing businesses that are not COVID-secure; expanding the use of face coverings, and new fines for those that fail to comply.
And once again asking office workers to work from home if they can while enforcing the rule of six indoors and outdoors - a tougher package of national measures combined with the potential for tougher local restrictions for areas already in lockdown.
I know that this approach - robust but proportionate - already carries the support of all the main parties in parliament.
After discussion with colleagues in the devolved administrations, I believe this broad approach is shared across the whole UK.
And to those who say we don't need this stuff, and we should leave people to take their own risks, I say these risks are not our own.
The tragic reality of having COVID is that your mild cough can be someone else's death knell.
And as for the suggestion that we should simply lock up the elderly and the vulnerable - with all the suffering that would entail - I must tell you that this is just not realistic, because if you let the virus rip through the rest of the population it would inevitably find its way through to the elderly as well, and in much greater numbers.
That's why we need to suppress the virus now, and as for that minority who may continue to flout the rules, we will enforce those rules with tougher penalties and fines of up to £10,000. We will put more police out on the streets and use the Army to backfill if necessary.
And of course I am deeply, spiritually reluctant to make any of these impositions, or infringe anyone's freedom, but unless we take action the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later, when the deaths have already mounted and we have a huge caseload of infection such as we had in the spring.
If we let this virus get out of control now, it would mean that our NHS had no space - once again - to deal with cancer patients and millions of other non-COVID medical needs.
And if we were forced into a new national lockdown, that would threaten not just jobs and livelihoods but the loving human contact on which we all depend.
It would mean renewed loneliness and confinement for the elderly and vulnerable, and ultimately it would threaten once again the education of our children. We must do all we can to avoid going down that road again.
But if people don't follow the rules we have set out, then we must reserve the right to go further.
We must take action now because a stitch in time saves nine; and this way we can keep people in work, we can keep our shops and our schools open, and we can keep our country moving forward while we work together to suppress the virus.
That is our strategy, and if we can follow this package together, then I know we can succeed because in so many ways we are better prepared than before.
We have the PPE (personal protective equipment), we have the beds, we have the Nightingales, we have new medicines - pioneered in this country - that can help save lives.
And though our doctors and our medical advisers are rightly worried about the data now, and the risks over winter, they are unanimous that things will be far better by the spring, when we have not only the hope of a vaccine, but one day soon - and I must stress that we are not there yet - of mass testing so efficient that people will be able to be tested in minutes so they can do more of the things they love.
That's the hope; that's the dream. It's hard, but it's attainable, and we are working as hard as we can to get there.
But until we do, we must rely on our willingness to look out for each other, to protect each other. Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour.
If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together. There are unquestionably difficult months to come.
And the fight against COVID is by no means over. I have no doubt, however, that there are great days ahead.
But now is the time for us all to summon the discipline, and the resolve, and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through.


skynewspolitics--2020-09-22--Face masks, fines, pub curfews and working from home: New coronavirus crackdown revealed

Face masks will become compulsory for bar staff , shop workers , waiters and taxi passengers in an effort to combat the rise in coronavirus cases in England , the prime minister has announced .
Fines for failing to wear a face mask will rise to £200 and will be extended to customers when they are not seated at a table , Boris Johnson told MPs .
Announcing the new coronavirus restrictions , the PM said the UK had reached a `` perilous turning point '' in its fight against COVID-19 and needed to `` act now to avoid still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also warned that the measures could remain in place for as long as six months , declaring : `` For the time being , this virus is a fact of our lives . ''
The restrictions announced by the PM - who will address the nation from Number 10 later - are as follows : • Office workers should work from home again where possible - although those in `` key public services and in all professions '' where this is not possible , such as construction and retail , should continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people should keep going in if it is important for their job , mental health or wellbeing • From Thursday , all pubs , bars and restaurants must offer table service only and close at 10pm - but delivery services can remain open • The requirement to wear a face covering has been extended to staff in retail , people in taxis and everyone using hospitality services • Fines for not wearing a face covering will now double to £200 for a first offence • COVID-secure guidelines will become a legal obligation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with those who do not comply running the risk of fines of £10,000 or closure • Only 15 people can now attend weddings , but 30 can still go to a funeral • The `` rule of six '' has been extended to indoor sports teams , such as five-a-side football games • The phased reopening of stadiums for sporting events from 1 October has been scrapped But the PM has stopped short - for now - of introducing more sweeping and stringent measures to try and halt the rise in cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address , telling MPs : `` I want to stress that this is by no means a return to the full lockdown of March .
We 're not issuing a general instruction to stay at home .
`` We will ensure that schools , colleges , universities stay open because nothing is more important than the education , health and well-being of our young people . ''
It had been suggested that proposals being worked on by Downing Street could have seen essential travel to schools and workplaces continuing , with restaurants and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Number 10 would ban different households from mixing .
Mr Johnson indicated that troops could be drafted in to free up police , in order to allow officers to focus on enforcing coronavirus rules .
A Number 10 spokesperson said this would involve the military `` backfilling certain duties '' , adding : `` This is not about providing any additional powers to the military , or them replacing the police in enforcement roles , and they will not be handing out fines . ''
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the public would be worried that the government `` does n't have a strategy '' .
`` One day people were encouraged to work in the office , in fact more than encouraged , they were openly challenged by the prime minister for not doing so , today they 're told the opposite , '' he said .
`` This is a time of national crisis but we need clear leadership . ''
He called for an extension of the furlough scheme , a demand echoed by the SNP 's Westminster leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPs after his statement , Mr Johnson confirmed that they would have an opportunity to debate the new measures next week .
And he said that ministers would review the restrictions if the public can `` do what they did before '' in helping get the spread of the virus under control .
The PM also accused Labour of blaming the issues with the government 's test and trace system for the resurgence of cases .
`` Testing and tracing has very little or nothing to do with the spread or the transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to a question from Barnsley East MP Stephanie Peacock , who accused Mr Johnson of failing to set up an `` effective '' system .
The devolved administrations in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland are able to take their own measures and move at a different pace if they so choose .
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has gone further than the PM , announcing a ban on households visits in Scotland from Wednesday .
People in Northern Ireland have already been banned from mixing with other households indoors .
Welsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the things the prime minister is talking about doing today , we have already done in Wales '' .
`` Very early on , we put the two-metre distance in the workplace into our regulations - it 's not been in guidance in Wales , it 's been a legal obligation on employers , '' Mr Drakeford told the Welsh parliament .
`` The prime minister is going to tighten the rule of six .
Well , our rule of six has been tighter all along - you can only meet somebody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new restrictions come after the COVID-19 alert level was raised from three to four , meaning there is now a high or rising level of transmission .
The government 's chief scientific adviser has warned that the UK could see 49,000 new cases every day within weeks unless action is taken to drive down the rate of infection .
This would translate to `` 200-plus deaths a day '' by mid-November , Sir Patrick Vallance said .
Mr Johnson has insisted he does not want to put the country into a second national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures are enough to turn the tide .
But despite there being no national lockdown like the one seen in March , some 13.5 million people across the UK are currently living under some form of local restrictions .


skynewspolitics--2020-09-22--Scotland bans household visits as COVID-19 rules tightened

People in Scotland have been banned from visiting other households indoors , in tough new restrictions that go further than those announced for England .
First minister Nicola Sturgeon said the COVID-19 restrictions would come to force from tomorrow .
`` We intend , as Northern Ireland did yesterday , to also introduce nationwide additional restrictions on household gatherings , similar to those already in place in the west of Scotland , '' she said .
The first minister said data suggested the measure had reduced the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland and that extending it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopefully reduce transmission .
The changes only impact meeting in people 's homes , with regulations for outdoor and public indoor meetings remaining the same .
Those living alone will be able to form extended households , while couples not living together , those who need childcare and tradespeople will be exempt from the measures .
However , the First Minister announced children under 12 would be exempt from the limit of six people from two households when meeting outside , and that those between 12 and 18 would be able to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households outdoors .
Addressing teenagers specifically , the First Minister said : `` I know how miserable this is for you and you have been so patient .
`` We are trying to give you as much flexibility as we can .
In return , please work with us and do your best to stick to the rules , for everyone 's sake . ''
As is already the message in Scotland , everyone who can work from home , should work from home .
And from Friday , pubs , bars and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , Ms Sturgeon said other restrictions would be unavoidable if rules on face masks and social distancing were not followed .
Ms Sturgeon added that she wanted to keep schools and businesses open as much as possible and would review all restrictions every three weeks .
It comes just hours after Boris Johnson announced further restrictions to combat the rise in coronavirus cases in England .
The prime minister announced face masks would become compulsory for bar staff , shop workers , waiters and taxi drivers .
He also said fines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would rise to £200 and would be extended to customers when they are not seated at a table .

People in Scotland have been banned from visiting other households indoors, in tough new restrictions that go further than those announced for England.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon said the COVID-19 restrictions would come to force from tomorrow.
"We intend, as Northern Ireland did yesterday, to also introduce nationwide additional restrictions on household gatherings, similar to those already in place in the west of Scotland," she said.
The first minister said data suggested the measure had reduced the spread of the virus in the west of Scotland and that extending it to the rest of the country would hopefully reduce transmission.
The changes only impact meeting in people's homes, with regulations for outdoor and public indoor meetings remaining the same.
Those living alone will be able to form extended households, while couples not living together, those who need childcare and tradespeople will be exempt from the measures.
However, the First Minister announced children under 12 would be exempt from the limit of six people from two households when meeting outside, and that those between 12 and 18 would be able to meet a limit of six others from six households outdoors.
Addressing teenagers specifically, the First Minister said: "I know how miserable this is for you and you have been so patient.
"We are trying to give you as much flexibility as we can. In return, please work with us and do your best to stick to the rules, for everyone's sake."
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As is already the message in Scotland, everyone who can work from home, should work from home.
And from Friday, pubs, bars and restaurants will have to close from 10pm.
However, Ms Sturgeon said other restrictions would be unavoidable if rules on face masks and social distancing were not followed.
Ms Sturgeon added that she wanted to keep schools and businesses open as much as possible and would review all restrictions every three weeks.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 5:35 PM announces new COVID rules for England
It comes just hours after Boris Johnson announced further restrictions to combat the rise in coronavirus cases in England.
The prime minister announced face masks would become compulsory for bar staff, shop workers, waiters and taxi drivers.
He also said fines for failing to wear a face mask would rise to £200 and would be extended to customers when they are not seated at a table.


skynewspolitics--2020-09-22--Plans to let people change gender without medical checks abandoned

The government has abandoned plans to let people officially change gender without medical checks - but ministers have promised to make the process cheaper and `` more straightforward '' .
In its response to a consultation on the 2004 Gender Recognition Act , the government concluded that `` the balance struck in this legislation is correct '' .
`` There are proper checks and balances in the system and also support for people who want to change their legal sex , '' women and equalities minister Liz Truss said in a written statement to parliament on Tuesday .
By sticking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has backtracked on former prime minister Theresa May 's proposal to allow transgender people to change their birth certificates without a medical diagnosis .
Speaking in 2017 , Mrs May said plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act would involve `` streamlining and demedicalising the process for changing gender because being trans is not an illness and it should not be treated as such '' .
In Tuesday 's move away from that approach , it means people wishing to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate - and thereby have the law recognise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibilities appropriate to a person of their acquired gender - will still have to have been officially diagnosed with gender dysphoria .
In her statement , Ms Truss did admit it was `` clear that we need to improve the process and experience that transgender people have when applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate - making it kinder and more straightforward '' .
She promised to reduce the fee for applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate from the current £140 to a `` nominal amount '' .
Ms Truss also vowed to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less bureaucratic .
She added that the government 's consultation had led it to `` understand that gender recognition reform , though supported in the consultation undertaken by the last government , is not the top priority for transgender people '' .
`` Perhaps their most important concern is the state of trans healthcare , '' the cabinet minister said .
: : Subscribe to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Ms Truss highlighted the opening of at least three new gender clinics this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lists .
She claimed that `` Britain leads the world as a country where everybody is able to lead their life freely and treated with respect and that , for many years , transgender people have been widely accepted in British society ; able to use facilities of their chosen gender ; and able to participate fully in modern life '' .
In the Republic of Ireland , people have had the right to a gender based on self-declaration since 2015 , while last week the British Medical Association gave their support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to self-identify .
Responding to the UK government 's announcement on Tuesday , Nancy Kelly , the chief executive of LGBT charity Stonewall , said it had `` fallen far short on its promise to reform the Gender Recognition Act , and has missed a key opportunity to progress LGBT equality '' .
`` It 's a shocking failure in leadership that after three years and a robust public consultation , the UK government has put forward only minimal administrative changes to improve the process for legal gender recognition of trans people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` While these moves will make the current process less costly and bureaucratic , they do n't go anywhere near far enough toward meaningfully reforming the act to make it easier for all trans people to go about their daily life . ''
Susie Green , the chief executive of charity Mermaids , expressed her disappointment that the government had not moved to allow self-declaration .
She added : `` While we welcome news that the cost of the GRC process is to be lowered to an unspecified 'nominal ' amount and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our young service users that they hoped for more and we must repeat our disappointment that none of these proposals offer help to those aged under 18 . ''
Amnesty International UK accused the government of `` nothing more than a tokenistic attempt to improve things for trans people living in this country '' , while the Equality and Human Rights Commission criticised a `` missed opportunity to simplify the law on gender recognition whilst maintaining robust safeguards '' .

The government has abandoned plans to let people officially change gender without medical checks - but ministers have promised to make the process cheaper and "more straightforward".
In its response to a consultation on the 2004 Gender Recognition Act, the government concluded that "the balance struck in this legislation is correct".
"There are proper checks and balances in the system and also support for people who want to change their legal sex," women and equalities minister Liz Truss said in a written statement to parliament on Tuesday.
By sticking with the current legislation, the government has backtracked on former prime minister Theresa May's proposal to allow transgender people to change their birth certificates without a medical diagnosis.
Image: Women and equalities minister Liz Truss said the 'balance' of existing legislation was 'correct'
Speaking in 2017, Mrs May said plans to reform the Gender Recognition Act would involve "streamlining and demedicalising the process for changing gender because being trans is not an illness and it should not be treated as such".
In Tuesday's move away from that approach, it means people wishing to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate - and thereby have the law recognise them as having all the rights and responsibilities appropriate to a person of their acquired gender - will still have to have been officially diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
In her statement, Ms Truss did admit it was "clear that we need to improve the process and experience that transgender people have when applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate - making it kinder and more straightforward".
Image: Former prime minister Theresa May had plans to demedicalise the process
She promised to reduce the fee for applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate from the current £140 to a "nominal amount".
Ms Truss also vowed to move the entire process online to make it less bureaucratic.
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She added that the government's consultation had led it to "understand that gender recognition reform, though supported in the consultation undertaken by the last government, is not the top priority for transgender people".
"Perhaps their most important concern is the state of trans healthcare," the cabinet minister said.
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:: Subscribe to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Ms Truss highlighted the opening of at least three new gender clinics this year as part of efforts to cut waiting lists.
She claimed that "Britain leads the world as a country where everybody is able to lead their life freely and treated with respect and that, for many years, transgender people have been widely accepted in British society; able to use facilities of their chosen gender; and able to participate fully in modern life".
In the Republic of Ireland, people have had the right to a gender based on self-declaration since 2015, while last week the British Medical Association gave their support for the right of transgender and non-binary people to self-identify.
Responding to the UK government's announcement on Tuesday, Nancy Kelly, the chief executive of LGBT charity Stonewall, said it had "fallen far short on its promise to reform the Gender Recognition Act, and has missed a key opportunity to progress LGBT equality".
"It's a shocking failure in leadership that after three years and a robust public consultation, the UK government has put forward only minimal administrative changes to improve the process for legal gender recognition of trans people in England and Wales," she added.
"While these moves will make the current process less costly and bureaucratic, they don't go anywhere near far enough toward meaningfully reforming the act to make it easier for all trans people to go about their daily life."
Susie Green, the chief executive of charity Mermaids, expressed her disappointment that the government had not moved to allow self-declaration.
She added: "While we welcome news that the cost of the GRC process is to be lowered to an unspecified 'nominal' amount and applications moved online, we know from our young service users that they hoped for more and we must repeat our disappointment that none of these proposals offer help to those aged under 18."
Amnesty International UK accused the government of "nothing more than a tokenistic attempt to improve things for trans people living in this country", while the Equality and Human Rights Commission criticised a "missed opportunity to simplify the law on gender recognition whilst maintaining robust safeguards".


skynewspolitics--2020-09-23--'Unseemly and unjustified': PM hits back at attacks on testing boss

Attacks on the government 's coronavirus testing boss are `` unseemly and unjustified '' , Boris Johnson has said .
The prime minister defended Dido Harding following her claim no-one could have predicted the big rise in demand for COVID-19 tests following most schools reopening .
He denied losing control of the system but was told by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer `` pretending there is n't a problem is part of the problem '' .
Live updates on coronavirus from UK and around the world Their fiery exchange at Prime Minister 's Questions came after some residents in coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test or were being told to travel hundreds of miles to receive one .
Baroness Harding , a Tory peer who was picked to chair the new National Institute for Health Protection , last week denied not preparing enough for a second spike of infections over the summer .
But she has faced criticism from opposition parties and even the Tory chair of the Commons Science Committee , Greg Clark , who said it was `` dispiriting '' more had not been done to prepare for `` circumstances which are entirely predictable '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliament , asking if the problem was unforeseeable or if the blame should be levelled at people with no COVID-19 symptoms trying to get a test - as the health secretary has previously suggested .
Mr Johnson hit back , claiming `` the continual attacks on Dido Harding are unseemly and unjustified '' .
`` I think her teams have done an outstanding job in recruiting people from a standing start , '' he said .
`` This is not for a moment to deny the anxiety of those who want tests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course we would love to have much more testing instantly . ''
: : Subscribe to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker He claimed the UK is testing more people than any other European country and repeated a pledge to increase capacity to 500,000 a day by the end of October .
`` What I frankly want to hear is more of the spirit of togetherness that we had yesterday , '' he added , following the announcement of fresh new restrictions welcomed by Labour .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaint is not with the NHS , it 's with the government .
`` My wife works for the NHS , my mother worked for the NHS , my sister works for the NHS so I 'm not going to take lectures from the prime minister on supporting the NHS . ''
He repeated that when schools reopened the `` inevitable happened '' and children got bugs , colds and flus but with `` no effective system in place '' , they and their contacts all have to isolate until they can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earth did we get into this mess ? ''
Sir Keir questioned .
In response , Mr Johnson told him there is an `` exceptionally small risk to children of primary and secondary school age from this disease '' .

Attacks on the government's coronavirus testing boss are "unseemly and unjustified", Boris Johnson has said.
The prime minister defended Dido Harding following her claim no-one could have predicted the big rise in demand for COVID-19 tests following most schools reopening.
He denied losing control of the system but was told by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer "pretending there isn't a problem is part of the problem".
Live updates on coronavirus from UK and around the world
Image: Baroness Harding denied not preparing enough over the summer
Their fiery exchange at Prime Minister's Questions came after some residents in coronavirus hotspots complained they could not get a test or were being told to travel hundreds of miles to receive one.
Baroness Harding, a Tory peer who was picked to chair the new National Institute for Health Protection, last week denied not preparing enough for a second spike of infections over the summer.
But she has faced criticism from opposition parties and even the Tory chair of the Commons Science Committee, Greg Clark, who said it was "dispiriting" more had not been done to prepare for "circumstances which are entirely predictable".
Sir Keir raised the issue in parliament, asking if the problem was unforeseeable or if the blame should be levelled at people with no COVID-19 symptoms trying to get a test - as the health secretary has previously suggested.
Mr Johnson hit back, claiming "the continual attacks on Dido Harding are unseemly and unjustified".
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"I think her teams have done an outstanding job in recruiting people from a standing start," he said.
"This is not for a moment to deny the anxiety of those who want tests, which I readily accept.
"Of course we would love to have much more testing instantly."
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He claimed the UK is testing more people than any other European country and repeated a pledge to increase capacity to 500,000 a day by the end of October.
"What I frankly want to hear is more of the spirit of togetherness that we had yesterday," he added, following the announcement of fresh new restrictions welcomed by Labour.
Sir Keir told him: "My complaint is not with the NHS, it's with the government.
"My wife works for the NHS, my mother worked for the NHS, my sister works for the NHS so I'm not going to take lectures from the prime minister on supporting the NHS."
Image: Sir Keir Starmer said there is 'no effective' test and trace system
He repeated that when schools reopened the "inevitable happened" and children got bugs, colds and flus but with "no effective system in place", they and their contacts all have to isolate until they can get a coronavirus test.
"How on earth did we get into this mess?" Sir Keir questioned.
In response, Mr Johnson told him there is an "exceptionally small risk to children of primary and secondary school age from this disease".


skynewspolitics--2020-09-23--Second lockdown could be needed if new restrictions don't work - Raab

A second national lockdown could be needed if the latest coronavirus restrictions do not work , the foreign secretary has told Sky News .
Speaking to Kay Burley , Dominic Raab said `` we ca n't rule it out '' , but stressed the government will `` take every effort to avoid that '' .
Live updates on coronavirus from UK and around the world The foreign secretary was speaking after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions to try and combat the rise in COVID-19 cases in England : • Office workers should work from home again if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bars and restaurants must only offer table service , and close at 10pm • All retail staff , people using taxis and everyone using hospitality services must wear face coverings - with fines rising to at least £200 for non-compliance • Weddings may only include 15 people , while funerals can host up 30 • The `` rule of six '' has been extended to indoor sports teams In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday night , the PM urged Britons to `` summon the discipline and the resolve '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning there have been `` too many breaches '' of the rules .
Asked about the prospect of another national shutdown , Mr Raab told Sky News : `` We 've always said we 've got a sort of repository of measures in the arsenal to take .
`` I do n't think we would speculate about what further could be done .
`` But the reality is they will be more intrusive or we could end up in a national lockdown .
`` That is what we want to avoid . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach as `` focused , balanced and proportionate '' .
And he defended the 10pm curfew for hospitality , after it was put to him that just 5 % of cases in recent figures were linked to pubs , bars and restaurants .
`` We know that in bars and restaurants , particularly after people have had a few drinks , as you go into the later hours of the evening , that there 's a risk that the compliance with the guidance ebbs a little bit , '' Mr Raab said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we 're confident based on the evidence that we 've got domestically and internationally that it 's one element of those that we need to make . ''
With Mr Johnson warning that the new rules could be in place for as long as six months , the foreign secretary was asked if the chancellor would be extending the furlough scheme .
Mr Raab said Rishi Sunak was `` not minded to have a wholesale extension '' - a potential hint that partial extension may be in the offing .
Labour 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported the measures taken by the government .
But the shadow Cabinet Office minister told Kay Burley that Labour wants ministers to `` fix '' the test , track and trace system to provide more support for businesses and workers , and `` local packages of support '' for areas badly affected by the virus .
The devolved administrations in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland are able to introduce their own restrictions and move at a different pace if they so choose .
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has gone further than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visits in Scotland .
People in Northern Ireland have already been banned from mixing with other households indoors .
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said `` many of the things the prime minister is talking about doing today , we have already done in Wales '' .
`` Very early on , we put the two-metre distance in the workplace into our regulations - it 's not been in guidance in Wales , it 's been a legal obligation on employers , '' Mr Drakeford told the Welsh parliament on Tuesday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rule of six .
Well , our rule of six has been tighter all along - you can only meet somebody from your extended household . ''

A second national lockdown could be needed if the latest coronavirus restrictions do not work, the foreign secretary has told Sky News.
Speaking to Kay Burley, Dominic Raab said "we can't rule it out", but stressed the government will "take every effort to avoid that".
Live updates on coronavirus from UK and around the world
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:30 'We'll get through this winter together'
The foreign secretary was speaking after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions to try and combat the rise in COVID-19 cases in England:
Office workers should work from home again if they can
From Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants must only offer table service, and close at 10pm
All retail staff, people using taxis and everyone using hospitality services must wear face coverings - with fines rising to at least £200 for non-compliance
Weddings may only include 15 people, while funerals can host up 30
The "rule of six" has been extended to indoor sports teams
In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday night, the PM urged Britons to "summon the discipline and the resolve" to avoid a second national lockdown after warning there have been "too many breaches" of the rules.
Asked about the prospect of another national shutdown, Mr Raab told Sky News: "We've always said we've got a sort of repository of measures in the arsenal to take.
"I don't think we would speculate about what further could be done.
"But the reality is they will be more intrusive or we could end up in a national lockdown.
"That is what we want to avoid."
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The foreign secretary described the government's approach as "focused, balanced and proportionate".
And he defended the 10pm curfew for hospitality, after it was put to him that just 5% of cases in recent figures were linked to pubs, bars and restaurants.
"We know that in bars and restaurants, particularly after people have had a few drinks, as you go into the later hours of the evening, that there's a risk that the compliance with the guidance ebbs a little bit," Mr Raab said.
"So we're taking this measure, we're confident based on the evidence that we've got domestically and internationally that it's one element of those that we need to make."
With Mr Johnson warning that the new rules could be in place for as long as six months, the foreign secretary was asked if the chancellor would be extending the furlough scheme.
Mr Raab said Rishi Sunak was "not minded to have a wholesale extension" - a potential hint that partial extension may be in the offing.
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Labour's Rachel Reeves told Sky News the party supported the measures taken by the government.
But the shadow Cabinet Office minister told Kay Burley that Labour wants ministers to "fix" the test, track and trace system to provide more support for businesses and workers, and "local packages of support" for areas badly affected by the virus.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:55 Labour 'scaremongering' over army on streets
The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are able to introduce their own restrictions and move at a different pace if they so choose.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has gone further than the PM, announcing a ban on households visits in Scotland.
People in Northern Ireland have already been banned from mixing with other households indoors.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:54 Do scientists support further lockdown?
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said "many of the things the prime minister is talking about doing today, we have already done in Wales".
"Very early on, we put the two-metre distance in the workplace into our regulations - it's not been in guidance in Wales, it's been a legal obligation on employers," Mr Drakeford told the Welsh parliament on Tuesday.
"The prime minister is going to tighten the rule of six. Well, our rule of six has been tighter all along - you can only meet somebody from your extended household."