On Monday night Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all UK residents must remain at home in order to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

These new restrictions apply equally to travelling by car as they do to moving around on foot.

 

Citizens can only leave their homes in order to get food or medicine; to exercise once a day; for medical needs; and to get to and from work - but only if they cannot work from home.

 

As long as you are leaving home for one of the above reasons, you can use your car to do so. You cannot use your car to visit friends or relatives, or for general recreation.

 

The Prime Minister said in his address, “You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say No. You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.

 

“You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can.

 

“If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.”

 

Are roads and motorways closed?

At present there are no restrictions on roads or motorways.

 

Are buses, trains and taxis still running?

Public transport is being kept open primarily to enable key workers to get around. This includes doctors, nurses, ambulance crews, as well as all-important supermarket workers, together with those who need to get to and from their places of work.

 

Public transport may be further reduced or re-opened in the coming weeks, depending on how COVID-19 cases and deaths are impacted by the new lockdown measures.

 

After the initial three-week lock-down period, it is hoped some restrictions can be lifted.