On the 4^th of January 2021 the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced that the country would be placed back into a national lockdown with the public being asked to stay at home in order to control the virus, protect the NHS and save lives.

The announcement followed the rapidly rising cases of Covid-19 across the country and prompted the four UK Chief Medical Officers to move the Covid threat level from four to five.

Much like the first lockdown back in March all non-essential services have been ordered to close with people only being allowed to leave their home for the following reasons:

• Shop for basic necessities for yourself or a vulnerable person
• Go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services if you can not reasonably do so from home
• Exercise with your house or support bubble, or one other person, once per day and within your own local area
• Meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
• Seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
• Attend educational settings for those eligible

All educational services other than nurseries have been ordered to move to remote learning except for children of key workers and vulnerable children.

The clinically vulnerable have been advised to shield again.

Restaurants are permitted to continue with delivery, takeaway or click and collect of food and non-alcoholic drinks but venues will no longer be able to serve takeaway or click-and-collect alcohol.

Garden centres are permitted to remain open, as are outdoor areas of heritage sites and gardens alongside playgrounds.

Places of worship can remain open but attendance can only be with your own household.

Indoor and outdoor sports facilities including sports courts, gyms, golf courses, swimming pools and riding arenas must also close. Elite sport and disabled sport can continue, as can PE lessons for children still needing to attend school.