ALL shops must close again as England enters a third national lockdown – and only essential stores are allowed to stay open.
The whole of the UK is now under “stay at home” orders and schools have been told to stay shut until February half term.
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The new Covid rules means businesses such as hairdressers must close Credit: PA:Press Association
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the sobering address to the nation on Monday, December 4.
It comes as official data shows one in 50 people in England has the killer virus — and 26,467 are being treated for it in hospital.
Millions of non-essential businesses, such as gyms and hairdressers, in England have already been forced to temporarily close after being plunged into tough Tier 4 restrictions.
Meanwhile, pubs and restaurants can continue to serve takeaway food but takeaway pints have been banned.
Here’s what can stay open during England’s third lockdown and what must temporarily close.
List of businesses that can stay open in lockdown
Businesses providing essential services are allowed to stay open during the winter lockdown.
Shops that supply groceries, medicines and financial services can continue to serve customers, as long as they are Covid-secure.
The government has published the below list of businesses that can stay open, which is largely similar to Tier 4.
These include:
- Supermarkets
- Pharmacies
- Garden centres
- Building merchants and suppliers of building products and off-licences
- Market stalls selling essential retail
- Businesses providing repair services but only if they primarily offer repair services
- Petrol stations
- Automatic (but not manual) car washes
- Vehicle repair and MOT services
- Bicycle shops
- Taxi and vehicle hire businesses
- Banks and building societies
- Post offices
- Short-term loan providers and money transfer businesses
- Funeral directors
- Laundrettes and dry cleaners
- Medical and dental services
- Vets and pet shops
- Animal rescue centres, boarding facilities, and animal groomers
- Agricultural supplies shops
- Mobility and disability support shops
- Storage and distribution facilities
- Car parks
- Public toilets
- Motorway service areas
- Outdoor playgrounds
- Outdoor parts of botanical gardens and heritage sites for exercise
- Places of worship
- Crematoriums and burial grounds
List of businesses that must close
The government has confirmed the below list of businesses that must shut during the lockdown, once again this is similar to Tier 4.
These include:
- Non-essential retailers, such as clothing and homeware stores
- Vehicle showrooms, other than for rental
- Betting shops
- Tailors
- Tobacco and vape shops
- Electronic goods and mobile phone shops
- Auction houses, except for auctions of livestock and agricultural equipment
- Market stalls selling non-essential goods
- Bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants except for takeaway and delivery
- Hotels, hostels, guest houses and campsites, except for specific circumstances
- Leisure centres and gyms
- Swimming pools, sports courts, fitness and dance studios, riding arenas at riding centres, climbing walls, and golf courses
- Theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries
- Casinos, amusement arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys
- Skating rinks, go-karting venues, indoor play and soft play centres and areas
- Circuses, fairgrounds, funfairs, water parks and theme parks
- Zoos, safari parks, and aquariums
- Indoor attractions at venues such as botanical or other gardens, biomes or greenhouses
- Hairdressers, barbers and nail salons
- Tattoo and piercing shops
- Beauty and tanning salons
- Nightclubs and adult entertainment venues
- Community centres and halls apart from a few exceptions
Thousands of people are becoming infected each day after mingling at Christmas and as the new mutated strain spreads.
The Covid-19 alert level has been raised to five for the first time – the highest setting.
Nicola Sturgeon also plunged Scotland in a lockdown to last all of January.
