Parliament has approved the lockdown regulations for England, due to come into force tomorrow (Thursday).
The regulations were passed in the House of Commons this afternoon by 516 votes to 38 (a majority of 478), and will take effect until 2nd December.
As part of the national lockdown, the Government has ordered certain businesses and venues to close. These include:
- all non-essential retail, including, but not limited to clothing and electronics stores, car washes, tobacco and vape shops
- pubs and restaurants (takeaways and deliveries can continue, however, takeaway of alcohol will not be allowed)
- indoor and outdoor leisure facilities
- entertainment venues
- personal care facilities
The national lockdown restrictions supersede any local measures that had been introduced around England.
The Government also announced an extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) until December meaning the government will pay 80% of wages up to a cap of £2,500 and employers will pay employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and pension contributions only for the hours the employee does not work.
More information about the national restrictions is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november
