Greater Manchester will move from local COVID alert level high to very high from 00.01 on Friday 23 October.

The The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (Medium, High and Very High) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 Regulations have been published and will take effect across all parts of Greater Manchester:

• Bolton
• Bury
• Manchester
• Oldham
• Rochdale
• Salford
• Stockport
• Tameside
• Trafford
• Wigan

This means that new measures will come into place including:

• people must not socialise with anybody they do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, in any indoor setting or in any private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events
• people must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in an outdoor public space such as a park or beach, the countryside, a public garden or a sports venue
• all pubs and bars must close, unless they are serving substantial meals
• betting shops, casinos, bingo halls, adult gaming centres and soft play areas will close
• people should try to avoid travelling outside the very high alert level or entering a very-high alert level area, other than for work, education or for caring responsibilities or to travel through as part of a longer journey
• residents should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK, and others should avoid staying overnight in the very high alert area

Announcement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/local-covid-alert-level-update-for-greater-manchester

Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-level-very-high-greater-manchester