Can I see family and friends affected by North-East lockdown restrictions?

This morning, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced restrictions for Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham. 

READ MORE: CONFIRMED: Tough new lockdown restrictions for the North-East from TONIGHT

READ MORE: Why some parts of the North-East will be in lockdown and others won't

But some have questioned whether they will still be able to see friends and family, even in outdoors settings. 

We've looked at what has been said by the Health Secretary today to come up with this explainer on what the rules mean for you.

People in lockdown areas cannot socialise with anyone outside their household

Those living in locked-down parts of the North-East will not be allowed to meet people outside of their household or support bubble.

The rules apply to both indoor and outdoor settings, in private homes and gardens.

This means people from outside locked-down areas cannot travel to the locked-down area, even if just to meet family and friends outside. 

The 'rule-of-six' will still apply, but will only mean up to six people from the same household will be allowed to socialise outside of their home. 

Travel to locked-down areas

Government guidance issued for Bolton, which went into a local lockdown last month in a similar way to the North-East, states that people living in Bolton can travel outside the area.

But they must not meet people they do not live with in their home, or garden, whether inside or outside of Bolton, unless in the support bubble.

It says people can still go on holiday outside of Bolton, but they should only do this with people you live with, or have formed a support bubble with.

What are the other rules?

In addition to this ban on meeting other households in locked-down areas, there will also be a curfew on pubs, restaurants and food and drink premises, with them being forced to close between 10pm and 5am.

They will also be restricted to table service only. 

Leisure and entertainment venues, including cinemas and theatres, will also be required to close between 10pm and 5am. 

Among the restrictions, residents are also advised:

- Not to socialise with other people outside of their own households in all public venues

- Only to use public transport for essential purposes, such as travelling to school or work

- Take holidays only within your own household or support bubble

- Avoid attending amateur and semi-professional sporting events as spectators.

A support bubble allows a single-adult household to join with one other household of any size.

It is hoped that the new measures can reverse the huge spike in positive coronavirus cases seen over recent weeks and will avoid the need for the region to be placed back into a full lockdown.

Mr Hancock said: “After seeing cases in the North East rise to a concerning level, local authorities requested support for tighter restrictions and we have taken swift action to accept their recommendations.

“We do not take these decisions lightly but I know the people of the North East will work together and break the chains of transmission.

“I urge those from affected areas: please, get a test if you are symptomatic, stay at home if you are required to self-isolate, and think: hands, face, space. This is the only way for us to return to a more normal way of life and avoid further restrictions.”

The health secreatry told the House of Commons that Sunderland now had a “concerning” Covid-19 rate of 103 positive cases per 100,000 people, with the number above 70 in Newcastle, Gateshead and South Tyneside.

The lockdown comes after several North-East councils wrote to the government calling for “stricter Covid-19 prevention measures” to be put in place.

Councils in Newcastle, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, and Northumberland asked for the drastic measures following a spike in infection rates on Monday.

READ MORE: Councils to ask for tougher lockdown restrictions to combat Covid

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes said: “There is universal concern from council leaders across our region about the exponential rise in Covid cases over the last week.

“Unless we get on with this now, we are facing a bigger problem down the line which could end up in a full lockdown.

“It is better to try to introduce measures which will prevent that, even though that may mean some additional restrictions over the next few weeks.

“We are working with the government on a plan for what those could mean and how we can get those measures in place over the next few weeks to protect our communities and having to go into another prolonged, damaging lockdown.”

Latest infection rates for the North-East areas set to be placed into lockdown had risen in a matter of days - confirmed the councils' concerns.

Latest data, published yesterday, confirmed South Tyneside had the region's highest infection rate per 100,000 population.

1. South Tyneside - 1,293 cases - 856.4

2. Sunderland - 2,319 cases - 835.1

3. Gateshead - 1,676 cases - 829.5

4. County Durham - 3,928 cases - 741

5. Newcastle upon Tyne - 2,085 cases - 688.5

6. North Tyneside - 1,168 cases - 561.8

7. Northumberland - 1,851 cases - 574.1

Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning, Amanda Healey, Director of Public Health at Durham County Council, said the seven council areas will monitor the situation on a weekly basis.

She said: "We hope, that is one of the reasons we've asked for restrictions now, is to be proactive and preventative, to be monitored on a weekly basis.

"We'll be looking at an exit strategy as soon as possible once we see those cases come down."