Sites to stay open as second lockdown begins in England next week

Construction sites will be able to stay open, as the prime minister this evening (31 October) confirmed a second lockdown in England will begin this Thursday.

From 5 November, people are being told to work from home wherever possible. The new measures are due to remain in place until 2 December.

All non-essential shops, restaurants, pubs and leisure facilities will close during the period.

But workplaces such as construction sites and factories will be allowed to remain open where staff cannot work from home.

Boris Johnson told tonight’s news conference: “You must stay at home, you may only leave home for specific reasons, including education and work.”

The regulations add: “Where people cannot do so (for instance people who work in critical national infrastructure, construction or manufacturing) they should continue to travel to work/attend their workplace. This is essential to keeping the country operating and supporting vital sectors and employers.”

And Johnson confirmed the furlough scheme, which had been due to finish today (31 October) was being extended until December – although details have not yet been provided.

Johnson added: “We are going to extend the furlough system through November. We will extend further until December.”

The new regulations will be voted on by MPs on Wednesday,

The measures will be loosened on a regional basis according to data at the time on the state of the virus. Regions are expected to then be placed in the existing three tier system.