Coronavirus: Which areas are under local lockdown and what are the rules?

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Coronavirus restrictions are being tightened in parts of north-east England, including Sunderland and Newcastle.

They are the latest areas to see extra measures put in place as cases increase.

Which areas have local lockdowns?

Pub curfews and restrictions on people mixing are being introduced in Northumberland, Newcastle, Sunderland, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead and County Durham from 19 September. People in Rhondda Cynon Taf should not leave the area without a reasonable excuse like going to work or school. Pubs and restaurants must close by 23:00 and people should not meet other households indoors Households in Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell are not allowed to mix People living in Lanarkshire are not allowed to meet other households indoors People in Ballymena town, the Belfast council area and certain Northern Irish postcodes are not allowed to go to each other's homes People in Caerphilly county are being told not to leave without good reason and should not meet indoors with anyone outside their household In parts of Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Lancashire people cannot meet anyone outside their own household, or support bubble, in an indoor venue People in Oldham, Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle should not meet anyone from outside their household outdoors In Bolton, there are visitor limits on care homes, while hospitality venues will only be able to serve takeaways and must close between 22:00 and 05:00 In Leicester, people cannot meet someone from another household in an indoor public venue. However, they can meet other households outside People living in Glasgow city, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire are banned from meeting people from another household inside their home

You can find out online which places in England, Scotland and Wales have imposed extra restrictions.

Image copyright PA Media Image caption A local lockdown is in force in some parts of Glasgow

What triggers a local lockdown?

There is no set level of infection that triggers a local lockdown.

But if an area posts more than 40 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, it is likely that extra restrictions will be considered.

Many areas in the North East are now above that level. As of Wednesday, Sunderland's rate was 82.1 per 100,000 people, South Tyneside was 93.4, Gateshead was 81.7 and Newcastle was 64.1.

Measures were introduced in Caerphilly after it registered 55.4 coronavirus cases per 100,000 population. This was the highest rate in Wales.

Bolton had the highest rate in England at 204.1 per 100,000 people in the week to 13 September.

How long do local lockdowns last?

Local lockdowns are regularly reviewed and when the number of infections falls, the restrictions start to be eased again.

Restrictions in Aberdeen have now been lifted, while two households can now meet indoors again in Stockport, Burnley, Hyndburn and some parts of Bradford and Kirklees.

What can be done in a local lockdown?

In a bid stop local coronavirus outbreaks, areas with high infection rates can be locked-down, or have extra restrictions introduced.

This could mean locking down a hospital or factory, or even a whole city.

Local authorities in England have powers to:

Close specific premises (such as shops, cafes and gyms) Shut outdoor spaces (such as parks, playgrounds and beaches) Cancel events (such as concerts, weddings and sporting events)

Ministers can:

Close sectors or types of premises in local areas Introduce localised stay at home orders Reduce the maximum size of gatherings Restrict the use of transport Stop people leaving a certain area Image copyright Reuters Image caption Bolton has the highest case rate in the country, the health secretary says

However, the number of infections is not the only factor considered.

For example, cases in Northampton jumped to 125 per 100,000 in August. But as the rise was almost entirely down to workers at a local factory no local lockdown was introduced.

Local decision-makers have a framework they can use to decide whether their area should be placed under extra restrictions to protect the public..

What is an 'area of concern'?

Public Health England publishes a weekly list of areas where rising infection rates are becoming worrying.

It separates them into "areas of concern", "areas of enhanced support" and "areas of intervention".

This means it could do more testing in care homes or with communities it thinks are at higher risk. It could also close down individual venues such as a pub.

Can police enforce a lockdown?

Police have powers to enforce a local lockdown. For example, if they believe that somebody is staying away overnight, they can tell them to return home.

They can also fine people for breaking the rules, and may issue a "prohibition notice" directing somebody not to do something.

But if a resident from a locked-down area wanted to go to a bar in another part of the city, for example, there is nothing legally to stop them.

Instead, the government hopes people's sense of civic responsibility will see them follow guidance to stay at home.