What the new North East lockdown rules will mean for weddings, funerals, and indoor sport

The stricter measures will ban people from different households from mixing in indoor settings, including pubs and restaurants, across Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, and County Durham.

The government has come under heavy fire over the new rules, with local councils claiming they were left in the dark and Prime Minister Boris Johnson getting the details wrong when asked to explain them on Tuesday.

Although a full set of guidance of what is and isn’t allowed from Wednesday is still yet to be published, the Department of Health and Social Care has now confirmed a few more details.

Weddings and funerals

The new restrictions on households mixing indoors will not change the current attendance limits for weddings or funerals.

That means that the North East will remain subject to the same rules as the rest of England for those events.

Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are limited to 15 people and receptions can continue afterwards in the form of a sit-down meal in a Covid-secure setting for up to 15 people.

Funerals will still have a limit of 30 attendees, and anyone working at any of these events does not count towards the person limit.

Sport

Again, there will be no change to the current rules on indoor sports because of the new restrictions.

You can continue to take part in organised sport or physical activity, including fitness classes, in groups of more than six people outdoors and up to six people indoors, for over-18s. Children’s and disability sport are exempt from the restrictions.

Where do the new restrictions apply?

From Wednesday, September 30, it will be against the law for people from different households or social bubbles to mix in any indoor setting – including pubs and restaurants.

Since, September 18, rules in the North East have only banned households mixing in private homes or gardens under the law.

The government is yet to publish a full list of the ‘indoor settings’ that the tougher restrictions will apply to.

Anyone who breaks the rules could be fined £200, lowered to £100 if paid within two weeks, for their first offence. That then rises to £400 for a second breach, doubling each time to a maximum of £6,400.

Schools and workplaces will be exempt from the new rules, and visits to other households for childcare purposes will also still be allowed.

Can I meet friends in a pub beer garden?

Yes. The government clarified on Tuesday that the restrictions on household mixing will only apply indoors, not in pub or restaurant gardens.

But while it will not be illegal for up to six friends to meet in a beer garden, it will be against public health guidance.

Can I meet friends in a park?

Specific guidance is yet to be issued on this. Meeting people from other households in a North East park will not be made illegal, but it is still unclear whether or not it will be against guidance.

Boris Johnson tweeted on Tuesday that people in the North East “should also avoid socialising with other households outside”.

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