NEW BAR RULES
Boris Johnson announces new lockdown law for pubs and restaurants that means you MUST give your test and trace details
A NEW law means people MUST give test and trace details to pubs and restaurants.
Boris Johnson made the announcement today as he outlined new rules coming into force in England to stop a feared spike in cases around the country.
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Businesses have not had to enforce this previously, but now punters will have to give their details out to help prevent the spread - otherwise they will be breaking the law.
The information will be be kept for 21 days in case the customer needs to be told to self-isolate.
In his first No10 press conference since July the PM said: "I also want to see, and public wants to see, stronger enforcement of the rules already in place.
"In future premises and venues where people meet socially will be legally required to request the contact details of every party.
It was revealed today:
- Groups of more than six will be banned from Monday - and anyone who disobeys faced a £100 minimum fine
- A new army of health and safety inspectors will be rolled out by local authorities to crack down on places not enforcing safety rules
- Britain's borders will be beefed up with fresh plans to force airlines into making sure everyone fills out new passenger forms - leaving officials more time to check people are in quarantine
- Stadium pilots will be reviewed and any that go ahead will be limited to 1000 only - putting the return of live sport in doubt
- Night-time curfews for businesses could be slapped on other areas of the country in future
"Record and retain these details for 21 days and provide them to NHS test and trace when require.
"We will support local authorities to make further and faster use of their power.
"Fines will be levied against hospitality venues that fail to ensure their premises remain covid secure."
He warned people in England face new £100 fines if they meet in groups of more than six indoors or out.
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The strict rules apply from Monday to gatherings in homes, pubs and restaurants — and could still be in force at Christmas.
Currently, people only face fines for gathering in groups of more than 30. And they can only legally meet inside with one other household.
But that will be changed so any of the six can be from different households, in an attempt to bring rules in line with outdoor gatherings.
The PM also discussed a border crackdown, with new forms to fill out and extra checks on people who should be quarantining after returning from countries not in the travel corridor.
Stadium pilots will be reviewed and any that go ahead will be limited to 1,000 only - putting the return of live sport in doubt and banned in areas deemed to be a coronavirus hotspot.
In data shared today, older people and younger children have not seen a huge rise in cases, but people aged 20-29 were shown to have seen a rapid increase in infections.
England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said it was a "real phenomenon" in which we are seeing real cases going up - with individual testing matching the infection rise.
Rising rates:
Alarming numbers show that England’s Covid infection rates have rocketed from 12.5 per 100,000 last week, to 19.7 this week.
But the rate is far higher among Brits in their late teens and 20s.
Among 17 to 18 year-olds it stands at a staggering 48.1 per 100,000.
Among 19 to 21 year-olds it is even higher at 54.5, while among 20 to 29 year-old it is 41.6 per 100,000.
But it is no higher among school age children.
Senior scientists fear soaring numbers of Brits will end up in hospital and could even die from Covid unless infection rates are quickly and drastically slashed.
Boris begged today: "For the sake of yours and your grandparents health, don't socially gather in groups of more than six now, and when term starts."
There are fears curfews could come in for areas under local lockdown, after Bolton saw pubs and restaurants only allowed to open within certain hours.
Young people have been blamed for the rise in coronavirus cases, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock saying people aged under 25 living in some of the country's richest areas have been pinpointed.
When asked if people were not following the rules he added: "We certainly see cases where they are not, and then we take action."
And many new cases are often linked, he said - adding that in Bolton, an outbreak was tied to a single pub which has been asked to close.
"We are seeing problems with social distancing. The rise in cases is largely among younger people, under 25s, especially between 17 and 21," he said.
In future premises and venues where people meet socially will be legally required to request the contact details of every party
Boris Johnson
It comes after police demanded greater powers to fine young Covid flouters — and ahead of tens of thousands returning to university next week.
The PM said the changes would make it simpler for the public to understand.
The drastic move comes after alarming figures revealed there were almost 2,500 new cases in the UK yesterday — following two straight days of 3,000 new infections.
The numbers were the highest since May and took the overall total of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK to 350,000-plus.
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The number of Covid-related deaths in the UK also hit 32 yesterday — the highest for weeks.
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Scientists say the reduced death toll and smaller numbers being admitted to ICU could mean the virus is getting weaker.
While most testing during lockdown took place in hospitals, anyone who now has symptoms of the virus is encouraged to order a test in the UK.
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'Hope UK can turn it around for Christmas' Matt Hancock says despite new law of six people
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