England (yep, that includes London) is now subject to a new four week lockdown.

The Usual Stuff

Stay 2m (6ft) away from people that you don't live with where practical, and at least 1m (3ft) away at all times. Do your very best to maintain hygiene, washing your hands and shared surfaces at every opportunity. And of course, you should only do what you're comfortable with.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, even mild, stay home for at least 10 days until you no-longer have a temperature. Get a test through the gov.uk testing website or calling 119. Others in your household must stay home for 14 days ^source.

Most coronavirus cases are mild, but if you're very ill, call 111, or in an emergency, call 999 - DO NOT go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital with COVID-19. Continue to keep NHS appointments for other purposes unless your clinician tells you otherwise or the government changes the advice.

What are the lockdown restrictions?

What's closed:

• All hospitality (restaurants, pubs, bars, etc.)
• All leisure and entertainment (gyms, cinemas, tourist attractions, etc.)
• All non-essential shops
• Personal care (barbers, hairdressers, spas, etc.)
• Amateur sports (including golf)
• Places of worship (for collective worship)

What's open:

• Supermarkets and other essential shops
• Takeaways, delivery services and click and collect
• Schools, colleges and universities
• Parks and playgrounds
• Elite sports (e.g. Premier League) will continue with no spectators
• Doctors, hospitals, vets, courts, all stay open
• Places of worship (for private prayer)
• Funerals with close family

You should stay at home and not make non-essential journeys with the following exceptions:

• for education
• for work, if you cannot work from home
• for exercise and recreation outdoors
• for medical reasons (e.g. doctors appointment, pharmacy trip)
• to shop for food and essentials
• to care for others, children (including split custody) or adults

If you go out, you can only meet one other adult from outside your household. You cannot visit someone indoors, or stay overnight away from home.

Single adult households can continue to form a social bubble with another household, and you're able to visit or meet with them.

You can do a picnic or barbecue outdoors as long as you stick to this.

If you break these rules you may be fined from £1000 or more, depending on the offence.

You can leave your home to escape injury or harm.

Can I visit London now?

Theoretically yes, although almost everything visitors would want to do will be closed for the duration of lockdown. Many incoming foreign travellers from higher risk countries are subject to a mandatory two week quarantine. Check if your country is on the list.

Can I go somewhere else?

The government advises against all non-essential travel within the UK. Hotel stays in England are expected to be for work or essential purposes only.

You cannot currently visit Wales or Scotland unless you have a valid exemption.

No international travel will be permitted during the lockdown - except essential travel & for work.

Face masks

Face coverings are compulsory on all forms of public transport and in all shops, takeaways, hospitals and care homes. This is a law and you can be fined if you do not comply. You don't need to buy a fancy respirator, instead think about buying or making your own from fabric, or use a scarf or bandana. As long as you wash them at a decent heat between uses this is much more environmentally friendly than disposable surgical masks.

The NHS App

The NHS COVID-19 app is now available. It uses Apple & Google's co-developed bluetooth protocol which does not transmit any of your personal details to anyone, including the government. It's been used as the basis for apps in privacy-conscious countries like Germany and Ireland, and is generally considered safe and secure.

The app is particularly effectively in dense urban areas, and NHS England's also includes features to help you check in to venues and get a test.

Download it!

Get help or give help

With the short days, the cold weather, and the lockdown restrictions, this is going to be a hard time for everyone.

• If you're feeling the strain or just feeling lonely and want to talk to someone the /r/MentalHealthUK master post is a great place to start.
• Also try our Daily Observations thread or /r/LondonSocialClub for virtual meets!
• Mutual Aid groups are local groups organised to support the most vulnerable in our communities. Find your Mutual Aid Group here.
• You can also Volunteer for the NHS. They're reopened applications recently.

This is not official advice - just our summary and might contain errors and omissions. Check gov.uk for the letter of the law. Please post any feedback or suggestions