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Coronavirus: Five new COVID-19 laws and fines that government slipped out

Civil liberties group Big Brother Watch says they were "imposed without scrutiny from parliament" and asks: "Where will it end?"

Police patrol in Soho, in central London on September 24, 2020, on the first day of the new earlier closing times for pubs and bars in England and Wales,
Image: New fines of 拢50, 拢1,000 and 拢4,000 have been announced
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Several new coronavirus rules, laws and punishments have been revealed by the government.

Ministers updated the legislation which gives police the legal powers to ensure people are following the emergency measures.

But among the changes widely known about, such as limiting the number of people who can gather to six, there were also some new additions.

Sky News takes a look at some of the other announcements slipped out overnight:

1. 'Recklessly' leaving isolation gets you a £4,000 fine

Anyone who "contravenes" a requirement to self-isolate without a "reasonable excuse" will get a £4,000 fine for their first offence - rising to £10,000 if it is their second or third.

That is if, while leaving isolation, they may or do come into close contact with another person.

More on Covid-19

Or if they are "reckless as to the consequences of that close contact".

2. Maliciously forcing someone into isolation will see you hit with a £1,000 penalty

One of the concerns some had about contact tracing was that people who test positive and are asked for their close contacts could maliciously give someone's name to force them into isolation, too.

That will now be illegal - punishable by a £1,000 fine.

The new regulations state anyone who knowingly "gives false information" about their close contacts "commits an offence".

Matt Hancock struggles to define 'established relationships'
Image: Matt Hancock says he has to 'be able to move at pace' to contain the COVID-19 spread

3. Tell work you're isolating or incur a £50 charge

Any staff isolating must tell their employer when they started and will be released from their duty.

If they don't, they will get a fixed penalty notice of £50.

This is because the government wants there to be a record of anyone isolating telling their employer, so that it is easier to ensure firms do not force workers to come into the office.

4. Hospitality forced to stop people singing and dancing

Owners of pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants must "take all reasonable measures" to stop singing on the premises by groups of more than six or any dancing.

Exemptions apply at weddings and civil partnerships - but only to the happy couple.

5. Music volume limited

And owners of the same types of businesses have also been banned from playing music on the premises louder than 85 decibels.

Performances of live music are excluded from the duty.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock tried to quell anger among some Tory MPs by saying he has to "be able to move at pace" to contain the spread of coronavirus.

But civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch have condemned the way the changes were introduced, saying: "Yet again, this was imposed without scrutiny from parliament. Where will it end?

"Government cannot and should not legislate every part of our lives."

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