What you may and might’t do defined

MILLIONS in London and the south east reside underneath Tier 4 lockdown restrictions – and extra areas adopted on Boxing Day.

Boris Johnson imposed harder measures to fight a rogue new strain of Covid – referred to 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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Hundreds of thousands at the moment are in Tier 4 – that means they had been unable to rejoice Christmas with family members from totally different householdsCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation

Will extra areas go into Tier 4?

Well being Secretary Matt Hancock 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.

And on December 30, Mr Hancock will evaluation the tiers once more.

Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire had been put into even tighter restrictions on account of the mutant Covid.

Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Northamptonshire have gone into Tier 3, and Cornwall and Hereforshire have been bumped up from Tier 1 to 2.

An extra six million folks at the moment are in Tier 4 of the Authorities’s Covid-19 restrictions since Boxing Day.

This implies a complete of 24 million folks 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 that joined Tier 4 on Boxing Day are:

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

 

Well being chiefs in Cumbria have stated the variant is within the county and may very well be behind the sharp enhance in circumstances there.

There may be 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 exams in London has doubled – and 60 per cent of these are the brand new pressure.

Areas already dwelling underneath powerful 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 folks had been now dealing with “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 went right into a degree 4 lockdown from Boxing Day.

A sequence of strict new guidelines have been introduced

What does life seem like underneath Tier 4?

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

It started on December 20 and was set to be reviewed on December 30, nevertheless, 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 dwelling until it is for important causes.

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

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

A well being supply stated: “The final 48 hours have modified the whole lot.”

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

Anybody who breaks the principles beneath may very well be hit with a £200 nice 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 folks, shall be fined £10,000.

When can folks depart their houses?

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

All train is limitless – in contrast to within the first lockdown, when it was initially restricted to only an hour a day.

Journey for some causes – together with schooling, childcare or an emergency – shall be allowed.

In relation to schooling, the Authorities says it should be formal provision – as in, going to class – reasonably than extracurricular lessons resembling music or drama tuition.

Communal worship can nevertheless nonetheless go forward.

And other people can nonetheless go to work – however provided that they can not make money working from home.

Individuals can depart dwelling for any medical cause, together with to get a Covid check, to be with somebody who’s giving start, to flee home abuse, or to get remedy for a pet.

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

However these in Tier 4 will not be allowed to depart 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.

Nonetheless, 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 houses, the Authorities says.

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

Individuals may depart dwelling to purchase meals, or to gather any objects – together with meals or drink – ordered via 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 folks meet inside or keep in a single day?

No. Brits dwelling in these areas is not going to be allowed to fulfill different households inside or keep in a single day anyplace else.

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

The one approach folks 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 implies 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, reside with a incapacity which requires steady care, or reside with a toddler underneath one.

You could want to alter 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 folks in Tier 4 “can train or meet in a public outside place with folks they dwell 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 providers will keep open?

This can be a quick record.

In Tier 3 and 4, pubs, eating places and bars are all shut, though they’ll provide 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 buying.

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 put up workplaces are allowed to stay open in Tier 4.

What does this imply for Christmas?

It is unhealthy information for Christmas.

Boris has been trying to save Christmas, insisting Brits would be capable of meet with their households because of 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, folks will not be capable of meet family and friends – and lots 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 – folks shall be ready meet others to kind a Christmas bubble, however the recommendation is to remain at dwelling as a substitute.

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

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

These in Tiers 1 to three shall 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 – via 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, folks perceive that is the time to take care of our aged relations and keep away from spreading the illness.

“Preserve it quick, hold it small, have yourselves a little or no Christmas as I stated the opposite evening — that’s, I’m afraid, the way in which via this 12 months.

“Subsequent 12 months I’ve little question that as we roll out the vaccine will probably 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 shall be reviewed on December 30, as a part of a wider evaluation 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