Coronavirus: Home visits banned in parts of northern England

People from different households are now banned from meeting indoors in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire after a rise in coronavirus cases.

The decision was made after the UK saw its highest daily total of new virus cases in over a month.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement on Twitter and says there has been an increase in people catching the disease specifically in the north of England.

"The spread is largely due to households meeting and not abiding to social distancing. So from midnight tonight, people from different households will not be allowed to meet each other indoors in these areas," Mr Hancock said.

"We take this action with a heavy heart, but we can see increasing rates of Covid across Europe and are determined to do whatever is necessary to keep people safe."

BBC political correspondent Chris Mason explained: "The government always warned it would slam on the brakes if it had to. Now it has."

The Scottish government has warned people not to visit areas of England affected by new local lockdown rules.

It said travel to those areas should only be undertaken if "absolutely essential".

Impact on Eid celebrations

The change in rules, which came into force from Friday 31 July, mean people living in these areas will not be able to meet different households in homes or private gardens.

The new rules will affect people's plans to celebrate Eid this weekend.

"My heart goes out to the Muslim communities in these areas because I know how important the Eid celebrations are," said Matt Hancock.

"Unfortunately this change does mean that people won't be able to get together in their houses, in their gardens. But we are allowing mosques and other religious places to stay open because they've done so much work to allow for Covid-secure celebration and worship."

The Muslim Council of Britain put out a statement making it clear how Eid celebrations can continue.

"Mosques, subject to the known restrictions including social distancing, are not affected by the lockdown measures announced," they said.

"Eid prayers at mosques are therefore still permitted."

They have also put out guidance with the British Islamic Medical Association to help people celebrate Eid safely.

How long will the rules stay in place for?

The new local lockdown rules in the north of England come nearly four weeks after restrictions were eased across the country, allowing people to meet indoors for the first time since late March.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said there had been a "marked change" in the spread of the virus across the area.

"I ask all Greater Manchester residents - young and old alike - to protect each other by observing these new requirements. They will be reviewed weekly; meaning the more we stick to them, the quicker they will be removed."

Manchester is one of the areas in northern England where rules have changed

The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer criticised the way the government made the announcement:

"No one would argue with putting in place local action to reduce the transmission of coronavirus," he said.

"But announcing measures affecting potentially millions of people late at night on Twitter is a new low for the government's communications during this crisis."

The new rules are not as strict as the local lockdown seen in Leicester recently. Those restrictions can be eased from Monday 3 August with cinemas, hairdressers and restaurants reopening.

Meanwhile, the borough of Oadby and Wigston on the outskirts of Leicester is moving completely out of local lockdown.

It has also been announced that from Saturday 1 August Luton - where lockdown rules weren't changed as quickly as the rest of the country - is now being brought into line with rules elsewhere in England after "significant progress".