What you’ll be able to and may’t do defined

MILLIONS in London and the south east live underneath Tier 4 lockdown restrictions – and extra areas will observe as early as Boxing Day.

Boris Johnson imposed harder measures to fight a rogue new strain of Covid – often known as VUI202012/01. On December 23, Matt Hancock additionally introduced that a raft of areas in the South and South East of England would be plunged into the highest tier.

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Thousands and thousands at the moment are in Tier 4 – that means there will probably be no probability to have a good time Christmas with family members from totally different householdsCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation

Will extra areas go into Tier 4?

Well being Secretary Matt Hancock immediately introduced on December 23 {that a} raft of new areas across the East and South East of England would also join the highest tier from Boxing Day.

Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire will probably be put into even tighter restrictions because of the mutant Covid.

Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Northamptonshire will go into Tier 3 too, and Cornwall and Hereforshire will probably be bumped up from Tier 1 to 2.

An extra six million individuals will probably be in Tier 4 of the Authorities’s Covid-19 restrictions from Boxing Day.

This implies a complete of 24 million individuals will now be in Tier 4, or 43 per cent of the inhabitants of England.

An inventory of the areas in Tier 4 at current are:

• Kent
• Buckinghamshire
• Berkshire
• Surrey (excluding Waverley)
• The boroughs of Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings
• All 32 London boroughs and town of London.
• Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough
• Hertfordshire
• Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).

A full record of the areas to affix Tier 4 on Boxing Day are:

• Sussex
• Oxfordshire
• Norfolk
• Cambridgeshire
• These elements of Essex not but in Tier 4
• Waverley
• Hampshire

 

Well being chiefs in Cumbria have stated the variant is within the county and might be behind the sharp enhance in instances there.

There’s additionally a “excessive probability” the virus is in Lancashire, the county’s director of public well being has stated.

In the meantime the variety of optimistic checks in London has doubled – and 60 per cent of these are the brand new pressure.

Areas already dwelling underneath robust Tier 4 restrictions embody Kent, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey (excluding Waverley), the boroughs of Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings, all 32 London boroughs and town of London.

Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough,
Hertfordshire and Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring) are additionally in Tier 4.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford introduced Wales will fall underneath the identical measures, which started on midnight on December 20 – and warned individuals have been now going through “a pandemic inside a pandemic, a disaster inside a disaster”.

And Scotland is restricting household mixing to Christmas Day solely, whereas a travel ban between Scotland and the rest of the UK will keep in place over Christmas and the entire of mainland will go right into a degree 4 lockdown from Boxing Day.

A collection of strict new guidelines have been introduced

What does life appear to be underneath Tier 4?

For these affected, Tier 4 is basically a return to the total lockdown which resulted in England on December 2.

It started on December 20 and was set to be reviewed on December 30, nonetheless, it was revealed that more of England will be plunged into the strictest tier as soon as Boxing Day.

The PM’s key message for these in these areas was to remain at house until it is for important causes.

There have been actual issues concerning the new strain, which is blamed for a sudden surge in hospitalisations.

And there are fears individuals are catching the virus regardless of carrying PPE and socially distancing.

A well being supply stated: “The final 48 hours have modified every little thing.”

Mr Drakeford informed residents in Wales: “We can not expose individuals to this new, extra virulent pressure of coronavirus.”

Anybody who breaks the principles under might be hit with a £200 superb within the first occasion. That doubles for additional offences, as much as a most of £6,400.

Those that maintain, or are concerned in holding, an unlawful gathering of greater than 30 individuals, will probably be fined £10,000.

When can individuals depart their properties?

Similar to in full lockdown, Brits in Tier 4 can solely depart their properties for important causes.

All train is limitless – not like within the first lockdown, when it was initially restricted to simply an hour a day.

Journey for some causes – together with training, childcare or an emergency – will probably be allowed.

In terms of training, the Authorities says it should be formal provision – as in, going to class – fairly than extracurricular courses akin to music or drama tuition.

Communal worship can nonetheless nonetheless go forward.

And other people can nonetheless go to work – however provided that they can’t work at home.

Individuals can depart house for any medical purpose, together with to get a Covid take a look at, to be with somebody who’s giving start, to flee home abuse, or to get therapy for a pet.

Individuals may depart house to go to somebody who’s dying or somebody in a care house, hospice, or hospital, or to accompany them to a medical appointment.

However these in Tier 4 will not be allowed to go away their space to journey elsewhere, until it is for one of many causes above.

Equally, nobody from Tiers 1, 2 or 3 can enter a Tier 4 space.

Nevertheless, assist bubbles will nonetheless be in place in Tier 4.

Those that are deemed clinically extraordinarily weak shouldn’t go to work.

They need to additionally restrict time exterior of their properties, the Authorities says.

In Tier 4 London all non-essential outlets at the moment are shutCredit score: London Information Photos

Individuals may depart house to purchase meals, or to gather any gadgets – together with meals or drink – ordered by way of click-and-collect or as a takeaway.

Individuals in all tiers are suggested to remain native, and “consider carefully” about whether or not they should journey overseas.

Can individuals meet inside or keep in a single day?

No. Brits dwelling in these areas won’t be allowed to satisfy different households inside or keep in a single day wherever else.

The Authorities says these in these areas should keep of their properties to assist fight the unfold of the tailored virus.

The one method individuals can meet is exterior – and the principles are strict.

One particular person can meet one different particular person exterior in a public place.  

So, that signifies that on Christmas Day, two households cannot meet for a stroll collectively.

Help bubbles will proceed in Tier 4, and in a single day stays are permitted.

Individuals can kind a assist bubble in the event that they’re the one grownup of their family, are underneath 18 and dwelling with out adults, live with a incapacity which requires steady care, or live with a baby underneath one.

You could want to vary your assist bubble in case your circumstances change. Discover out extra about changing your support bubble.

Brits throughout the nation have been hitting the outlets to purchase last-minute Christmas presentsCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation

The Authorities’s particular steering is that individuals in Tier 4 “can train or meet in a public outside place with individuals they stay with, their assist bubble – or as a part of a childcare bubble – or with one different particular person”.

Youngsters underneath 5, and as much as two carers for an individual with a incapacity who wants steady care are not counted in direction of the outside gatherings restrict.

Public outside locations embody parks, seashores, forest, public gardens, allotments and playgrounds.

What companies will keep open?

This can be a brief record.

In Tier 3 and 4, pubs, eating places and bars are all shut, though they’ll supply supply or take-out choices.

However the guidelines are a lot stricter in Tier 4.

Non-essential outlets needed to shut from midnight on December 20, placing an finish to Christmas procuring.

Hairdressers, barbers, magnificence salons and all leisure venues additionally needed to shut, in addition to gyms.

Important outlets together with supermarkets, comfort shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, {hardware} shops, banks, pet outlets and submit places of work are allowed to stay open in Tier 4.

What does this imply for Christmas?

It is dangerous information for Christmas.

Boris has been trying to save Christmas, insisting Brits would be capable of meet with their households due to the deliberate bubbles.

However the brand new pressure means the choice has been made to cancel the day for London, the south east and east because the areas are moved into Tier 4.

Sadly, individuals will not be capable of meet family and friends – and plenty of will spend the day alone.

That is as a result of family mixing is banned, and all however non-essential journey is prohibited too.

It is barely totally different in Wales – individuals will probably be ready meet others to kind a Christmas bubble, however the recommendation is to remain at house as a substitute.

What about for areas in Tiers 1, 2 and three?

The plan to permit individuals to kind social bubbles over 5 days will even be thrown out.

These in Tiers 1 to three will probably be allowed to kind a bubble, however solely on Christmas Day itself.

Beforehand, it was hoped that Brits would have 5 days to socialize inside three-household bubbles.

However that is now been slashed – by way of three-household bubble guidelines will stay, just for decrease tiers.

The PM has urged the public to keep away from spreading the lethal bug over Christmas.

He stated: “All of the proof I’m seeing, individuals perceive that is the time to take care of our aged kinfolk and keep away from spreading the illness.

“Hold it brief, preserve it small, have yourselves a little or no Christmas as I stated the opposite evening — that’s, I’m afraid, the best way by way of this 12 months.

“Subsequent 12 months I’ve little question that as we roll out the vaccine it is going to be very totally different certainly.”

All areas within the south east of England earlier than underneath Tier 3 measures, together with London, moved into Tier 4 on December 20.

This will probably be reviewed on December 30, as a part of a wider evaluate of tier restrictions.

It comes as…

1. Fears Birmingham may be ‘plunged into tier four lockdown’ after crisis meeting to tackle soaring mutant Covid strain
2. Tier review u-turn over fears Brits may have ‘New Year’s Eve blowout’ before lockdown leaving police unable to cope
3. Map reveals the places where Covid variant is spreading most rapidly across UK as mutant strain located in 57 places
4. Parents’ fury as ‘schools may close for ALL of January’ after experts claim mutant Covid strain spreads faster in kids
5. UK Covid cases see biggest ever daily rise with 36,804 infections and 691 deaths as positive tests double in a week