Liverpool gears up for its first weekend under new restrictions

Hospitality staff are urging people to work together as Liverpool gears up for its first weekend under new coronavirus restrictions.

On Tuesday, tougher measures were brought in to try to curb a big spike in cases here.

Pubs, bars and restaurants have to close by 10pm and you need to wear a face covering unless you're sat down at a table.

Jack Granby's a doorman from Liverpool, he said having spoken to punters he doesn't know how it's going to work: "Half of them said that they'll probably be drinking earlier, the others said they'll probably end up making a fuss if someone's trying to ask them to leave at 10pm at night.

"That's when the night usually starts for people so I do believe that over the weekend we're going to have quite a bit of trouble.

"It does definitely put a strain on ourselves. It makes us seem like the bad guy, people are constantly saying to myself and my colleagues that 'you guys are no fun, you're all boring' and we've just got to drill it into their heads because if we don't we're going to lose our jobs."

Rita runs Peter Kavanagh's in the Georgian Quarter for the past 28 years, she said this is the biggest challenge she's ever faced in business:"This city's gone through an awful lot of stuff, but it's stuff we've been able to physically fight, this is a different kettle of fish, we can't see it, we don't know who's got it."

"The answer is all in our own hands, if we all follow the rules.

"People think tomorrow's never going to come, tomorrow will always come, but six months out of your life is no big deal to kill this horrible virus.

"The city always comes together, especially in the crisis and right now we need to come together."

Working from home is also once again being encouraged, with anyone who can being asked to do so.

People who can't, such as those working in construction or retail, are being advised they should continue to go to their workplaces.

People working in retail, travelling in taxis, and staff and customers in indoor hospitality, except while seated at a table to eat or drink, will have to wear face coverings.

From Monday, a maximum of 15 people will be allowed to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, but the limit remains at 30 for funerals.

The rule of six, introduced last weekend, that any social gatherings of more than six people are against the law, is being extended to all adult indoor team sports.

Large sporting events, business conferences and exhibitions will not reopen as had been planned from October 1.

The penalties for disobeying the rules will also be greater - failing to wear a mask or breaking the rule of six will see fines doubling to £200 for a first offence.

Businesses which break the rules could be fined up to £10,000 and closed.

Fines of up to £10,000 for people who fail to self-isolate have already been announced.

Downing Street said military support was an option to free up police so they can focus on enforcing the tougher rules.

For people in the shielding category, Mr Johnson said the guidance remains that shielding is not currently needed, unless they are in a local lockdown area.

In a televised address on Tuesday evening, he said he was "spiritually reluctant'' to impinge on people's freedoms, but warned: "Unless we take action the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later.''