'A short, sharp shock '- What is a ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown and what could one look like in Sheffield?

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Deemed by advisors as a ‘short, sharp shock’ to halt the spread of Covid-19, a circuit breaker lockdown could last two weeks and see the closing or regulating of pubs, restaurants and gyms as well as socialising between households banned.

A circuit breaker lockdown will come into force in Scotland at 7pm tonight (Friday, October 9) with 3.4 million people set to experience the toughest restrictions on daily life since the full lockdown was lifted earlier in the pandemic.

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With Prime Minister Boris Johnson set to announce a raft of new restrictions for the North from Monday, could similar measures be headed to Sheffield?

Here we seek to answer some of your questions.

WHAT IS A CIRCUIT BREAKER LOCKDOWN?

The ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown is a national lockdown for a defined period, in this case a fortnight, as opposed to the local lockdowns currently operating across the country.

Circuit breaker measures were first introduced by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to restrict movement in the country back in April.

This saw schools and all but essential workplaces closed with restrictions on household mingling.

WHO IS SUGGESTING IT FOR THE UK?

It is reported that scientists from the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) proposed a nationwide lockdown in October during the half-term break.

Calum Semple, professor of child health and outbreak medicine at the University of Liverpool, and a member of SAGE, said he believed a circuit breaker is something that should be considered at a national level.

Speaking in a personal capacity, he said said: “Perhaps a circuit breaker a couple of weeks ago would have been really good idea.

“It’s always easier to reduce an outbreak at the earlier stage than to let it run and then try to reduce it at a later stage.

“So, yes, circuit breakers are certainly something we should be thinking about on a national basis.”

UNDER THE NEW RULES, CAN WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS GO AHEAD?

Weddings should be able to go ahead so long as they were booked before the new restrictions were announced. Funerals would also go ahead as planned - with the usual social distancing measures in place.

WILL I BE ABLE TO GO TO THE PUB?

We don’t know yet. It may depend on where you live and how badly affected your area is. In Scotland, pubs and bars are allowed to remain open but are banned from serving alcohol indoors for 16 days and must shut by 6pm.

However pubs in ‘central belt’ areas that have seen a spike in cases such as Greater Glasgow have been told to shut altogether.

CAN I USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT?

Only really where strictly necessary, in order to bring down the rate of infection.

I HAVE A HOLIDAY BOOKED- WOULD I HAVE TO CANCEL IT?

People in Scotland are not required to cancel half-term holiday bookings, but in general those living in the worst-affected areas in the ‘central belt’ are advised not to travel outside of their hometown. Residents are being told to stay at home, but there will be no official national travel ban.

IS A KICKABOUT IN THE PARK OFF LIMITS?

Non-contact sport such as tennis, running, cycling and skiing are continuing in Scotland under existing restrictions. But in the central belt, snooker and pool halls, indoor bowling alleys, casinos and bingo halls will be closed from this weekend. For people aged 18 and over, contact sports will be suspended for the next fortnight except professional sports.

HOW ABOUT THE GYM?

Classes and other indoor group exercise activities are not allowed in Scotland under the new rules, but gyms can remain open for individual exercise.

CAN I MEET MY FRIEND FOR A COFFEE?

Cafes that don’t have an alcohol licence are able to stay open until 6pm to support social isolation across Scotland. The measures mean that people can meet in cafes and no more than six people can gather from two households.

CAN I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY GP?

The NHS will stay open for operations and treatments that are not related to Covid-19.

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