Coronavirus: Social gatherings above six banned in England from 14 September

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Social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in England from Monday - with some exemptions - amid a steep rise in coronavirus cases.

A law change will ban larger groups meeting anywhere socially indoors or outdoors, the government said.

But it will not apply to schools, workplaces or Covid-secure weddings, funerals and organised team sports.

It will be enforced through a £100 fine if people fail to comply, doubling on each offence up to a maximum of £3,200.

Several exemptions apply to the new rules - which come into force on 14 September - with households and support bubbles bigger than six people unaffected.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to give further details at a Downing Street news conference later on Wednesday.

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Previously, guidance in England allowed gatherings of up to six people from different households outdoors - or two households of any size, indoors or outdoors. But until now the police have had no powers to stop them unless they exceeded 30.

"One of the pieces of feedback we had including from the police was that we needed the rules to be super simple so that everybody knows what they are," said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

"And now this will now be rigorously enforced by the police."

Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast: "This is really simple. Gatherings are ok, they should be socially distanced of course, but groups only of up to six."

He said it means that some families will not be able to see both grandparents at the same time. "You know, I have three children," he said. "We have a family of five. And so we'll be able to see one other person at a time, as a whole family."

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Mr Hancock was also asked about testing, after people with symptoms struggled to access testing in recent days.

"Unfortunately we have seen this quite sharp rise in the last couple of weeks of people without symptoms who don't have a good reason coming forward and getting a test," he said, saying 25% of people who were getting a coronavirus test were not eligible.

"I've even heard stories of people saying 'I'm going on holiday next week therefore I'm going to go get a test'. No. That's not what the testing system is there for."

At-a-glance: What are the new rules?

• Social gatherings of more than six people in England will not be allowed in law from Monday 14 September
• The new rule applies to private homes, indoors and outdoors, and places such as bars and cafes
• The rule does not apply to schools and workplaces, or weddings, funerals and organised team sports
• A full list of exemptions is due to be published before the law changes
• People who ignore police could be fined £100 - doubling with each offence to a maximum of £3,200

The change applies to people in England of all ages, and to gatherings indoors and outdoors, in private homes, public outdoor spaces, and venues such as pubs and restaurants.

No 10 said any group of seven or more people gathering anywhere "risks being dispersed by police or fined for non-compliance".

BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley pointed out that pubs and restaurants would be allowed to have more than six customers inside, but that the groups of six would have to be socially distant from each other.

The rationale behind allowing this, but not allowing larger groups of people inside other people's homes, is that businesses can only be open if they follow safety and hygiene measures set out by the government, he added.

Downing Street said Mr Johnson held a virtual roundtable with police forces last week, and heard officers wanted clearer rules and enforcement on social contact.

The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are able to set their own coronavirus restrictions and, while largely implementing similar rules, have moved at their own pace during the pandemic.

The number of people allowed to meet inside or outside varies in the UK's four nations. If you are meeting indoors: up to eight people from three different households can meet in Scotland; up to six people from two households in Northern Ireland; up to four households can form an "extended household" in Wales.

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Ministers and government advisers earlier expressed concern over a "sharp rise" in cases and a "heartfelt" apology was issued following shortages in England's testing system.

Overall, there have been 8,396 new cases reported since Sunday - with 2,460 reported on Tuesday alone.

There were also 32 deaths reported, but these will not have been related to the most recent rise in cases.

Large gatherings 'greatest risk'

The rise in cases seen in recent days has caused alarm among ministers and their health advisers.

They believe the UK is at a critical point ahead of the onset of autumn and winter, when respiratory viruses tend to thrive.

Close contact within homes remains the most common risk of transmission identified by contact tracers.

Clearly people living with an infected person are most at risk.

But, after that, the most common contact infected individuals have is with visitors to their household, according to data gathered by England's NHS Test and Trace service.

It is ahead of leisure venues, shops, workplaces and health and care settings.

Clearly large gatherings in homes - especially indoors, which is more likely to happen when the weather turns - present the greatest risk.

Ministers will also make it clear further restrictions will follow if the rise in infections is not curbed.

The UK government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, who No 10 said backed urgent action in England, has said Covid-19 rates are now rising, especially among people between the ages of 17 and 29.

He warned that if people stopped social distancing then "Covid comes back".

England's deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van Tam has also voiced concern saying: "People have relaxed too much. Now is the time for us to re-engage, and to realise that this is a continuing threat to us."

In other developments:

• A new public information campaign will be launched across the UK reminding people of the "basics" - washing their hands, covering their face and giving others space
• The quarantine rule on travellers coming into England from seven Greek islands came into force at 04:00 on Wednesday
• Lockdown measures are being reintroduced in Bolton, Greater Manchester, after a local rise in cases. It includes a ban on people socialising with people outside their own household in any setting, even outdoors
• The first clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine at Oxford University have been put on hold after a participant had an adverse reaction.

How will you be affected by the new restrictions? Do you have questions relating to the changes? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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