Nicola Sturgeon suggests lockdown could last 'until May'
The third national lockdown has meant many businesses and venues have been closed to reduce social contact. This includes things like non-essential retail, restaurants, pubs, gyms, entertainment venues and salons, but what do the new rules mean for hotels? Are hotels allowed to remain open in lockdown?
On January 4, Boris Johnson addressed the nation to announce a third national lockdown after 58,784 people tested positive for the virus within 24 hours.
Since then, an additional 60,916 cases have been confirmed and another huge figure is expected to be announced later today.
In the speech, he said: “Since the pandemic began last year, the whole United Kingdom has been engaged in a great national effort to fight Covid.
“And there is no doubt that in fighting the old variant of the virus, our collective efforts were working and would have continued to work, but we now have a new variant of the virus.
“It has been both frustrating and alarming to see the speed with which the new variant is spreading.
“Our scientists have confirmed this new variant is between 50 and 70 per cent more transmissible – that means you are much, much more likely to catch the virus and to pass it on.”
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The new strain of the virus has played a role in the staggering increase in cases and put hospitals “under more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic”.
The number of daily deaths is up by 20 percent since last week and due to rise, so the new measures are absolutely necessary.
Mr Johnson explained the new rules are the same as they have been in previous lockdowns- we must all stay at home.
He said: “You may only leave home for limited reasons permitted in law, such as to shop for essentials, to work if you absolutely cannot work from home, to exercise, to seek medical assistance such as getting a Covid test, or to escape domestic abuse.”
Non-essential businesses are closed… but does this include hotels?
Are hotels open in Tier 5?
The Government website details exactly which businesses and venues must remain closed during lockdown by law.
On top of non-essential retail and hospitality venues, the list states that accommodation businesses must also close.
This includes hotels, hostels, guest houses and campsites.
However, you may have noticed that some hotels are remaining open.
The Government rules state accommodation must close “except for specific circumstances.”
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It goes on to explain hotels can remain in business where they act as someone’s main residence.
You can also stay in a hotel if you cannot return home, or if it is essential to stay there for work purposes.
Hotels can also remain open to provide accommodation or support to the homeless.
Circumstances where these rules may apply could include needing to stay in a hotel while they move house.
Hotels can also accommodate someone who is caring for a vulnerable person or seeking respite from doing so, attending a funeral or visiting a person who is dying.
They can also be open to those who are isolating from others as required by law, elite athletes who need to stay overnight for training or a competition, or someone who needs it to attend education or training.
Hotels may also let people stay to enable voting in an election, are a vulnerable person seeking refuge, or for any purpose requested by the Secretary of State.
You cannot visit a hotel for leisure and bookings will be cancelled if you attempt to do so.
Guest accommodation providers may only remain open for the specific reasons set out in law, listed above.
The rules also state people in the UK cannot leave their homes or the place where they are living for “holidays or overnight stays” unless you have a “reasonable excuse for doing so”.
This means holidays in the UK or abroad are off-limits, and you can’t even stay in a second home or caravan you own if it is not your primary residence.
You also cannot stay with anyone who you don’t live with unless they are in your support bubble.
This rule also applies if you are staying in a hotel for one of the legal reasons
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