THE UK government has ordered 18 areas into local lockdown in Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

Here's what the term means and the rules that you have to adhere to if you are one of the 4.5 million people living in the any of the affected areas.

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What does local lockdown mean?

A local lockdown is where the government reimposes many of the coronavirus lockdown measures that were implemented nationwide in March, but on a local scale and with a few tweaks.

It is a response to a localised spike in cases that aims to stop a broader coronavirus outbreak and a second wave hitting the UK as a whole.

The key points

The main rule of the local lockdown is that people must stop visiting each other's houses and gardens.

You should not host or visit people you do not live with unless they are in your support bubble - a partner who does not live with you, a carer, or your child's other parent.

You can still go to work and do things with your family like go to a cafe or the shops, but must remain in your household and social distance from others.

In some areas certain businesses, like indoor gyms, must shut again.

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What local areas are affected?

The following areas are affected by the new local lockdown as of July 31:

Greater Manchester

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

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Lancashire

• Blackburn with Darwen
• Burnley
• Hyndburn
• Pendle
• Rossendale

West Yorkshire

• Bradford
• Calderdale
• Kirklees

What are the new local lockdown rules?

Areas under local lockdown are subject to the same social distancing that happened in March, with a few tweaks.

You should socially distance from people you do not live at all times with unless they are in your support bubble.

You must wear a mask while out in public unless you are exempt.

If you run a business you need to take steps to ensure strict social distancing between customers.

In Blackburn with Darwen and Bradford all indoor sports and leisure facilities must now remain closed.

Clinically extremely vulnerable people in Blackburn with Darwen, and other areas where shielding continues, must keep shielding past August 1.

The police will be able to take action against anyone breaking the rules and fine you up to £100, which then doubles for every new breach.

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Under local lockdown you cannot:

• Meet people you do not live with inside a private home or garden, except where you have formed a support bubble.
• Visit someone else’s home or garden even if they live outside of the affected areas.
• Visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances.
• Socialise with people you do not live with in other indoor public venues like pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions.
• Have a large wedding reception or party.
• Share a vehicle with people outside of your household if you can avoid it. You must wear face coverings and roll down the windows if you can't, then clean the car afterwards.

You can:

• Continue to visit and stay with your support bubble partner if you are living alone or are single parents with dependent children under 18.
• Continue to travel in and out for work, but workplaces must implement Covid-19 Secure guidance.
• Hold a funeral restricted to 30 attendees, with social distancing.
• Go to cafes, but only with your bubble partner and household.
• You can attend indoor public venues with people you live with or are in a support bubble with, but you have to social distance with everyone not in that bubble.
• You can meet people in small groups of less than six people in a public outdoor space like a park, unless the group is people from two households, like two families of five for example.
• Have a wedding, but with no more than 30 people, all socially distanced.
• Travel in and outside of the lockdown area to attend a wedding.

The government will pass new laws to enforce the new changes to meeting people in private homes and gardens soon.

You can

Eid al-Adha measures

Eid al-Adha is being celebrated between July 31 and August 3. Muslims around the nation were eager to hear how the new rules would impact their celebrations.

Under local lockdown, you can attend a mosque or other place of worship, where Covid-19 Secure guidance applies, but you must socially distance from people outside of your household.

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The rules are that anyone living in the lockdown areas cannot host or visit friends and family in their homes.

You can meet up in a park or open outdoor area with another household, but must maintain a two metre social distance and wear face coverings.