During his Prime Ministerial address on 22nd September, Boris Johnson asked the country to "summon the discipline, and the resolve, and the spirit of togetherness that will carry us through" the latest restrictions shared by each of the UK nations over the course of the day. The announcement follows the decision to raise the UK's COVID-19 Alert Level from 3 to 4, after a period of increased infection rate across all UK nations, with the number of confirmed cases increasing by over 3,000 since the beginning of August.

Mr Johnson stressed his understanding of the hardships faced by all during the previous months, however asked for complete compliance with new regulations, stating:

"We must rely on our willingness to look out for each other, to protect each other. Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour.

The following rules now apply in the respective nations:

England

• Pubs, bars and restaurants will be restricted to table service only, and must close by 10pm
• Face coverings are now compulsory for bar staff and seated customers, shop workers, waiters and taxi drivers
• A limit of 15 guests may attend weddings
• The 'Rule of Six' now applies to indoor team sports
• Fines for not wearing face coverings or following regulations increased to £200 for first offence
• People should work from home if they can

Northern Ireland

• On 21^st September, it was announced that people in Northern Ireland will no longer be allowed to visit others indoors
• The measures are an extension of localised restrictions that were imposed on 10th September on people living in Ballymena, the Belfast City Council area, and postcodes BT43, BT28 and BT29 (household "bubbles" are exempt) 
• No more than six people from two households will be allowed to gather in a private garden (children under 12 are exempt)

Republic of Ireland

• The new rules came into force in Dublin and surrounding county at midnight on Friday
• For the next three weeks, people will be discouraged from leaving the city and county unless for essential reasons
• They are being asked to work from home where possible and only to make essential journeys on public transport
• In Dublin City, visitors to private homes and gardens should be limited to a maximum number of six from one other household
• There are to be no organised indoor gatherings, and outdoor gatherings are to be up to a maximum of 15
• Restaurants and pubs that had been serving food will only be allowed to cater outdoors, to a maximum of 14 people, or provide a take-away service

Scotland

• You are no longer allowed to visit other households in their homes, or meet other people in your own house
• Pubs, bars and restaurants must close by 10pm
• You can still meet with one other household indoors in a pub, bar or restaurant
• Home working should continue if possible

Wales

• Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport are now in lockdown, with people not able to enter or leave the areas without a reasonable excuse
• For more information on what is allowed during local lockdowns in Wales, please follow the link HERE