September 8, 2020 10.35 pm This story is over 42 months old

Gatherings of more than six people to be outlawed from Monday

Coronavirus spike worried government

A new legal limit of no more than six people gathering indoor or outdoor will be imposed from September 14 amid the growing number of coronavirus cases nationally and locally.

It will not apply to schools, workplaces or COVID-19 secure weddings, funerals and organised team sports.

Households and support bubbles bigger than six people are unaffected as well.

The government is warning of £100 fines if people fail to comply with police, doubling up to a maximum of £3,200.

Any group of seven or more people gathering anywhere “risks being dispersed by police or fined for non-compliance,” according to  BBC News.

The new, lower limit in law will make it easier for the police to identify and disperse illegal gatherings, Sky News reports.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce more details in a news conference on Wednesday, along with a full list of exemptions.

To date there have been 144 cases in Greater Lincolnshire since September 1, compared to 204 for the whole month of August.

The county saw a surge in cases confirmed over the weekend, and health bosses have urged people to stick to social distancing measures in response.