Corona and Democracy - United Kingdom

Information on COVID-19 measures and democracy

• Gatherings of more than 2 people (excluding people who live together) are banned. At least until 13 April. Non-compliance is punishable by a fine.
• People are only allowed to leave their house for specific reasons.

   10 May:

• The government announced the easing of some lockdown restrictions from 13 May (outdoor physical activity and workers who cannot work from home).

5 June:

• Further restrictions have been eased, allowing, among others, social gatherings 

31 July:

• Schools are scheduled to reopen as of 1 September and stadiums, conferences and other business events will bring back audiences as of 1 October

• Coronavirus: What are the new restrictions and why are they needed?
• Coronavirus: Strict new curbs on life in UK announced by PM
• https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/10/uk-prime-minister-boris-johnson-keep-that-r-down
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do#changes-in-restrictions

• Numerous local elections in the UK have been postponed to for a year, they will be held in May 2021.

• https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51876269

• NHS contact-tracing app should be launched in June. The app would alert the users if they come in contact with another user tested positive to Covid-19. The app is voluntary and it keeps a trace of others who have been in close contact through Bluetooth signals that transmit an anonymous ID. These low energy Bluetooth signals perform a digital "handshake" when two users come into close contact, but keep that data anonymous. Concerns have been raised regarding data privacy.

• https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/05/28/nhs-app-track-trace-uk-coronavirus/

• Parliament is closed until at least 21 April - at present, no digital alternatives have been presented.
• For two years the Government is allowed to take people into or keep them in quarantine, or direct a person to attend a designated place, restrict or prohibit mass gatherings and close premises
• The bill needs to be renewed by parliament every 6 months.

• Coronavirus: Emergency law approved by slimmed-down Welsh Assembly
• Coronavirus: Boris Johnson urged to face MPs during break
• Emergency powers to tackle coronavirus spread become law after government bill rushed through Parliament

• The English law
• The Welsh law
• The Scottish law
• The Northern Ireland law

• Inside the UK, regional differences in measures exist.

• Coronavirus: MPs call for more clarity on England-only measures
• Coronavirus: How Wales' approach differs from England
• Coronavirus: Nicola Sturgeon says new rules amount to 'lockdown'