The rules around getting a takeaway and ordering food during coronavirus lockdown

‘Lockdown’ rules are in place, meaning all ‘non-essential’ businesses have been forced to close.

Even before the lockdown was in place, pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants were all told they must close, as part of a crackdown on the potential spread of the virus in public places.

Planning regulations were altered, allowing these businesses to stay open and operate as takeaways, even if they had not done so previously.

This is still the case with the stricter lockdown rules in place.

Takeaways are among the businesses that have been permitted to stay open, and the Prime Minister urged people to “use food delivery services” in his speech at the press conference on Monday.

The government guidance says: "People can continue to enter premises to access takeaway services, including delivery drivers.

"People must not consume food or drinks on site at restaurants, cafes or pubs whilst waiting for takeaway food.

"Those venues offering takeaway or delivery services must not include alcoholic beverages in this list if their license does not already permit."

Instructions to limit the number of times you leave the house have been given to those who have not shown any coronavirus symptoms and do not live with anybody who has done. Those with symptoms should not leave at all.

Permitted reasons to leave include going to work if you cannot work from home, essential shopping, medical needs and to exercise once per day.