‘Covid safe’ family activities during lockdown include drive-in football on big screens, frisbee and dog shows
PUBS are shut and Brits can't meet pals from different households - but frisbee competitions and dog shows are encouraged under England's second national lockdown.
Experts from Sage say they believe family-friendly activities could help keep the nation's spirits up during the four-week shutdown.
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And officials have now urged ministers to give advice on how to have fun safely.
But the activities suggested may leave many slightly baffled.
Brits will be urged to swap pints with friends for throwing a frisbee either with members of their household, or with one other person outside.
Dinner at a favourite restaurant could be traded for a family dog show,. according to the mooted proposals.
Meanwhile, a night watching a blockbuster at the local cinema can be replaced with a drive-in movie or sport on a big screen, top scientists say.
The ideas may provide little comfort to the tens of millions of people who have been told to only go out when strictly necessary.
Despite that, officials hope the creative list of socially-distant activities will inspire those feeling the strain to keep their chins up.
People are now only able to leave home for essential reasons - and the nation's pubs, restaurants and shops will be shut for four weeks.
Under the shutdown, all non-essential shops and retail - including clothing, electronics, vehicle showrooms, travel agents, betting shops, auction houses, car washes, tobacco and vape shops - are closed.
Entertainment venues including theatres, museums, casinos, bingo halls and zoos are also shut.
Once again, hairdressers, nail salons and tattoo parlours are closed.
Hospitality venues, including bars and restaurants, are also shut, although takeaway and delivery services can still be provided.
Brits have been told to stay at home yet again - and those who do leave will face a £200 fine if they do so without a reason.
However, people can leave their home for work if they can't do so from home, for education, for exercise or for medical reasons. Food shopping is also allowed.
Perhaps most painfully, those living in England can only see friends and family if they live in the same household, or are part of the same support bubble.
All the reasons people living in England can leave home during the second lockdown
- To buy goods or obtain services from a business that's open - or to get them for a vulnerable person
- To exercise outside - either alone, with your household or one person from outside your household
- To provide informal childcare for someone under 13
- For 'recreation' - to visit a public outdoor place for enjoyment - such as going to the park
- To attend a place of worship
- To attend a Remembrance event
- To undertake activities in connection with or required to buy, sell or let out a home
- To visit an estate agent, home, or show home to buy or rent
- Moving house
- To visit the tip or a recycling centre
- To collect food or drink from a take-away venue
- To visit people in your support bubble
- To go to work, school, training or volunteer work
- To fulfil legal obligations such as attending court or bail proceedings
- To access critical public services including social services, DWP job centres, food banks or victim support
- For medical need - including appointments, tests, vaccinations, to donate blood, to be with someone giving birth, or to avoid injury and escape harm
- For support groups - such as vulnerable person's meetings, to care for someone with a disability
- To visit someone who is dying if you're family or a close friend
- For a funeral, celebration of life or to visit a grave and pay respects
- For a wedding - but these are only allowed if one of the party is dying
- For childcare reasons - such as for kids to visit both parents
- To look after animals including exercising them
- To return home from a holiday
- To visit someone in prison
Te only exception is to meet with one other person outside.
Boris Johnson has been urged to confirm that the strict conditions will come to an end, as planned, on December 2.
And the Prime Minister said that without the shutdown, Britain would "see fatalities running in the thousands".
But he said there'll be "better days before us".
Mr Johnson hopes the restrictions will allow people living in the UK to celebrate "as normal a Christmas as possible".
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Some experts believe the UK is already past the peak of the second wave - putting us in "good shape" for Christmas.
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Epidemiologist Prof Tim Spector, of King’s College, said the UK's worst-affected regions are showing improvement, but acknowledged "large differences" remain between different areas.
“We urge everyone to respect the restrictions and help get the number of cases down as soon as possible to help the NHS, end the lockdown and get us in good shape for December," he said.
