Daily US Times: As new coronavirus measures come into force this weekend, more than a quarter of the UK population is set to be under lockdown rules.
From Saturday in England, households in Leeds, Stockport, Wigan and Blackpool will be banned from mixing in each other’s homes or gardens.
In Wales, Llanelli will be subject to new rules from 18:00 BST, with Swansea and Cardiff following 24 hours later.
The lockdown rules come as the rate at which the coronavirus is spreading appears to be speeding up.
Meeting another household indoors was banned across the whole of Scotland on Wednesday.
In the last week, the R number – which indicates how many people someone with coronavirus infects – has risen and now stands at 1.2 to 1.5. A number above 1 means the virus is spreading within the community.
Meanwhile, the daily number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the United Kingdom reached a record high of 6,874, government figures on Friday showed.
In England, the “rule of six” and a 22:00 closing time for restaurants and pubs applies nationally.
But extra restrictions are also in place in large parts of north-west and north-east England, West Yorkshire and the Midlands where the infection rate is higher.
The latest rules for Stockport, Leeds, Wigan and Blackpool came into force at midnight and ban different households from mixing inside private homes or gardens.
Support bubbles are not affected and family and friends can still provide informal childcare for children under 14.
People are also advised not to socialise with people they do not live with in any other settings, including shops, parks and bars.
Judith Blake, Leeds City Council leader, told it was clear people had not been self-isolating if they had symptoms.
She said: “What we have got to do is make it reasonable for people.”
You may read: Two million deaths ‘very likely’ even with vaccine, WHO warns
