MILLIONS of households might be asking what the shock Covid-19 guidelines introduced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson final evening imply for us all as we put together for Christmas.
Matt Wilkinson finds out the solutions to a very powerful questions.
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Christmas procuring will not be doable below Tier 4 guidelinesCredit score: London Information Footage
Q: WHAT DOES TIER 4 MEAN FOR CHRISTMAS?
A: There could be no indoor family mixing.
You should keep inside your personal family.
You can not go to some other households over Christmas whereas dwelling in Tier 4.
Q: WHAT ABOUT TIERS 1, 2 & 3?
A: You possibly can go to kin indoors solely on Christmas Day.
However Prof Whitty urged folks to maintain their visits as “native and as brief as doable”.
Q: WHAT ABOUT THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED FIVE-DAY CHRISTMAS RELAXATION OF RULES?
A: The five-day window — proposed lifting of restrictions between December 23 and 27 – has been cancelled throughout the nation.
These in Tiers 1, 2, and three can solely now see different households indoors on Christmas Day.
The five-day Christmas window has been cancelled throughout the nationCredit score: AFP or licensors
Q: WHAT ABOUT THE ELDERLY?
A: Help bubbles stay in place for these in isolation and loneliness.
Q: WHAT ABOUT MEETING PEOPLE OUTDOORS IN TIER 4?
A: Sure, however you may solely meet one particular person out of doors in a public place
Q: SO IF I LIVE IN TIER 4 CAN I TRAVEL TO SEE MY GRANDPARENTS WHO LIVE IN OTHER TIERS?
A: No. No person dwelling in Tier 4 can journey out of the realm.
Q: CAN RELATIVES IN TIERS 1, 2 OR 3 VISIT FAMILY ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN TIER 4?
A: No. No person can journey into Tier 4 from different areas from as we speak, even to see household for Christmas.
The areas within the new Tier 4 from tonight at midnight
Kent
Buckinghamshire
Berkshire
Surrey (excluding Waverley)
The boroughs of Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings
All 32 London boroughs and the town of London.
Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough
Hertfordshire
Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring)
No person dwelling in Tier 4 can journey out of the realmCredit score: AFP or licensors
Q: CAN I SEE MY FAMILY IF I LIVE IN TIER 3 AND THEY LIVE IN TIER 3?
A: The Authorities is advising folks to remain native and preserve visits brief.
Q: CAN I SPEND THE NIGHT WITH MY PARTNER IN TIER 3 OR 4?
A: No. In a single day stays exterior your property are banned.
Q: BUT I WANT TO GIVE MY GRAN A HUG?
A: Not should you dwell in Tier 4.
You should keep at dwelling and never socialise with different households.
All different Tiers are instructed to maintain Christmas visits brief and keep native.
Q: SURELY THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS FOR TIER 4?
A: There are solely exemptions for help bubbles and for separated dad and mom and their kids.
You should keep at dwelling and never socialise with different households in Tier 4Credit score: AFP or licensors
Q: WHAT IF I’VE ALREADY PACKED MY BAG TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH FAMILY?
A: Prof Whitty yesterday instructed Brits to “unpack” and keep at dwelling as all journey is banned.
Q: CAN I AT LEAST GO TO THE GYM AND WORK OFF MY CHRISTMAS EXCESS?
A: Not should you dwell in Tier 4 areas because the gyms and indoor leisure will shut.
Q: BUT CAN I STILL DO MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN TIER 4?
A: No.
All non-essential retail retailers are closed.
This consists of many shops the place you’d hope to choose up final minute items.
Q: CAN I TREAT MYSELF AND GET MY HAIR DONE IN TIER 4?
A: Non-essential retail in Tier 4 will shut together with hairdressers, nail bars and indoor leisure venues.
Q: MAYBE I CAN ESCAPE AND GO ABROAD FOR CHRISTMAS?
A: No. Journey overseas is restricted for important work solely.
Q: CAN I GO TO CHURCH?
A: Sure. You possibly can go to church. Communal worship is okay.
Q: WHAT ABOUT WATCHING THE FOOTBALL ON BOXING DAY?
A: Followers are usually not allowed inside grounds in Tiers 3 and 4 so you’ll have to keep inside and watch the telly.
Q: CAN I MOVE HOUSE?
A: Sure, you may nonetheless transfer home, however provided that it has already been organized.
Q: WHAT IF EVERYONE WAS TO IGNORE THE RESTRICTIONS?
A: Infections would soar, hospitals could be overwhelmed and hundreds extra would lose their lives.
Q: WILL I BE STOPPED BY POLICE IF I DISOBEY?
A: Sure. It’s in opposition to the regulation to interrupt the Tier guidelines.
Q: HOW LONG DO THESE RESTRICTIONS LAST?
A: Tier 4 got here into impact at 00.01 this morning and might be reviewed on December 30.
Q: GREAT, SO WE CAN GO OUT FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE THEN?
A: No. Tier restrictions is not going to be eased for New 12 months’s Eve events.
Q: WHAT ABOUT WALES?
A: First Minister Mark Drakeford ordered a nationwide lockdown which got here into drive at midnight and can solely be relaxed on Christmas Day.
Q: AND SCOTLAND?
A: Covid restrictions will solely be relaxed for in the future at Christmas and mainland Scotland might be positioned below the tightest restrictions from Boxing Day, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon introduced.
Q: SO IS THE NEW STRAIN MORE DEADLY?
A: Consultants say it’s growing the R fee, which at present stands between 1.1 and 1.2 by an extra by 0.4.
Infections are doubling each seven days in some areas, in keeping with Prof Chris Whitty yesterday.
Q: WHERE IS IT SPREADING?
A: The virus was first seen in Kent and London in September.
By final month in London it accounted for 28 per cent of Covid instances within the South East and 62 per cent by December 9.
Q: WHEN DID THIS BECOME A MAJOR CONCERN?
A: After new information proven to the Authorities on Friday afternoon revealed the extent of the unfold.
The virulent new pressure is blamed for a surge in hospitalisation and a hike in optimistic instances in London.
Q: WILL I STILL GET MY NEWSPAPER?
A: The Solar and others will proceed to print in all Tiers.
Q: IS COVID STILL DEADLY?
A: Authorities figures present the variety of Covid-19 instances yesterday hit 27,052 and 534 folks died inside 28 days of a optimistic take a look at.
Q: IS THIS THE WORST MOMENT OF THE VIRUS?
A: Sir Patrick Vallance says it’s not the worst second because the virus is controllable and vaccines are being rolled out.
Q: IS THERE SOME GOOD NEWS?
A: Over 350,000 folks have now had the primary dose of the vaccine.
Q: AND THERE IS HOPE?
A: Boris stated yesterday: “We all know the vaccine is arriving, issues might be radically totally different by Easter.”
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