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Number of people who can legally gather in England reduced from 30 to six

The government has announced it is reducing the number of people who can legally gather in England from 30 to six amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, effective from Monday.

The Manc - 8th September 2020

The government has just announced that it is reducing the number of people who can legally gather in England from 30 to six.

The ban comes amid a rise in COVID-19 cases and will be effective from Monday.

The new crackdown on groups of more than six people gathering in homes, parks, pubs and restaurants is England’s biggest coronavirus restriction since lockdown was eased in the country.

There have been more than 350,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus so far in the UK and more than 40,000 people have died, government figures show.

The government announced 2,460 new cases early on Tuesday. The total was 2,988 on Sunday, the highest figure since 22 May.

According to Sky News, the Prime Minister will now announce a new government advertising campaign entitled “Hands. Face. Space.”

“We are simplifying and strengthening the rules on social contact, making them easier to understand and for the police to enforce,” Johnson will reportedly announce at a Downing Street news conference.

“It is absolutely critical that people now abide by these rules and remember the basics – washing your hands, covering your face, keeping space from others, and getting a test if you have symptoms.”

If people fail to comply with police, the new ban will be enforced through a £100 fine – which will continue to double for repeat offenders up to a maximum of £3,200.

Several exemptions will apply, however, with households and ‘support bubbles’ bigger than six people remaining unaffected.

A full list of exemptions will be published by the government later, before Boris Johnson delivers further details at a Downing Street news conference on Wednesday.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.