THE rules on who you can meet and what you can do vary significantly across the North-East and North Yorkshire.

At the moment, seven parts of the North-East are under tighter lockdown restrictions due to a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases.

County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Sunderland, Northumberland, North Tyneside and South Tyneside have seen tighter restrictions imposed for the past two weeks.

People living in these areas are not allowed to meet with other households in private homes and gardens, and are strongly advised from mixing with others in public venues.

But areas such as Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland and North Yorkshire remain unaffected by the local lockdown restrictions.

However, these areas still have to follow national guidance on meeting others, mixing with other households and a host of other rules.

Two households BANNED from meeting in any indoor setting in parts of North-East

We've put together a list of the main differences between local lockdown rules and national rules to help you understand how the rules affect you.

Here are the rules for those under North-East restrictions

The Government guidance outlines what is banned under regulations in the seven lockdown areas - this is the following:

- Residents must not socialise with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens.

It was announced today (September 28) that it would be made illegal to meet up with other households, not in your support bubble, in any indoor settings including restaurants, pubs and bars - read more here.

- Late night restriction of operating hours will be introduced, with leisure and entertainment venues required to close between 10pm to 5am.

The Government guidance goes on to say that the following is advice that the public should adhere to in order to "reduce" the spread of infection:

- 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.

These are the rules for those not under local lockdown restrictions 

Some rules in non-lockdown areas have been relaxed in the past few weeks, but a number of national rules still apply across England.

But some councils have been issuing their own guidance as a warning to residents in order to avoid risking a local lockdown.

Middlesbrough Council and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council have started to advise residents not to visit other households in a bid to slow infections.

Middlesbrough council said analysis showed 80 per cent of Covid-19 cases were as a result of contact within homes.

Coronavirus: Darlington and Teesside added to list of areas getting 'enhanced support' to tackle rising cases

Under national restrictions, you can meet up with people from other households but you must follow these rules.

- The 'rule of six', which applies indoors and outdoors, including in private homes and gardens.

- The Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently unveiled this rule, which came into effect on September 14, stating: "You must not meet socially in groups of more than six."

- According to the Government guidance, you can meet/socialise in groups of up to six people - the only exception being if your household/support bubble is larger than six.

- You should still maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with however to avoid the spread of Covid-19.

- You can still legally meet up with other people from outside your household in areas not under enhanced restrictions.

This includes in pubs, restaurants, cafes and other leisure venues, but you must only attend these places in groups of up to six people.

- All hospitality venues including pubs, restaurants and bars must close at 10pm under a curfew, which was imposed in parts of the region earlier this month.

- You should not travel to see residents in areas under local lockdown, but there is nothing stopping you from taking a day trip / overnight stay to these places if not meeting with such residents.

What if I flout the rules in both lockdown areas and non-lockdown areas?

The police will be able to enforce these rules, and if you break them you could face a fine (fixed penalty notice) of £200, doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £6,400.

People across England will be also be legally required to self-isolate from this week if they test positive for coronavirus or are contacted by the test and trace service.

READ MORE: New £10,000 fine for breaking Covid-19 rules come into force TODAY

If they do not they risk being hit with new fines starting at £1,000 and increasing up to £10,000 for repeat offenders or serious breaches, the Department of Health said.

People who test positive for Covid-19 will also be fined if they knowingly provide false information about close contacts to the test and trace service.

The Department of Health said that police will check compliance in the highest incidence areas and in high-risk groups based on “local intelligence”.

High profile and “egregious” cases of non-compliance will be investigated and prosecuted while action will be taken on tip-offs from “third parties” about people who have tested positive but are not self-isolating, the Department of Health added.

More Covid-19 coverage from The Northern Echo

READ MORE: Every single rule coming into force under new Covid-19 restrictions

READ MORE: What you CAN and CANNOT do under new local lockdown rules in the North-East