The current 4 rules for "lockdown" are almost identical to those implemented in Austria one week ago. While small details will be different, these are some of the common issues at a glance:
- Essential shops staying open include supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations, post offices, banks, opticians and pet supplies.
- Panic-buying thinned out significantly after lockdown started and people adjusted to life indoors. If you visit any supermarket now, it's only about 30% busy with people respecting the safety distance. Hopefully this will happen in the UK.
- Online deliveries and online shops are still allowed. The first thing people did was to create a registry of local "non-essential" shops and spread that on Facebook so people can support local businesses who need it now more than ever. These include clothes, accessories, toys, sweets, spices, cosmetics, etc.
- The government quickly announced a support package for self-employed people and small businesses. This isn't that amazing though (€1000-€1600 support per month for a maximum of 5 months) and won't realistically cover the losses/debt that most will end up with.
- Restaurants are still allowed to operate and many turned to delivery or pick-up services. Some offer "Quarantine Packages" with easily reheatable meals to help fill up 14 days. Payment now is no-contact wherever possible.
- Going out for exercise or dog walks is allowed, but heavily implied that this needs to be around your own home and for the shortest time possible. Driving somewhere for a "day out" is discouraged. They also cracked down hard on cyclists who took advantage of a nice day last week to go on extensive bike tours.
- There was brief mention of children being forced to stay with one parent for the entire duration of lockdown but quickly overturned after outcry. Spending time between two households is allowed in shared custody.
- Lockdown is not the same as total quarantine. A few towns are quarantined which means residents are not allowed to leave at all. Travel between different towns is still allowed, however this needs to be for a good reason such as non-avoidable work or picking up medical supplies.
- Travel to see parents, friends or relatives is not allowed. There is an additional rule here that children must not be sent to grandparents for childcare. This is the fear that younger people might be asymptomatic spreaders.
- Doctors and dentists have reduced their hours down to emergencies only. Non-essential appointments need to be postponed.
- All other businesses are allowed to operate if you can work from home or if your work does not require additional human contact (eg going to the office to pack up online shop orders alone).
I'm sure I've missed some points but hope this will help!