When does Bristol go into tier 2? Why the city was moved from tier 3 Covid rules in today’s anouncement
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London and large areas of the south east were plunged into tier three this week, leaving many hospitality venues forced to close just weeks after they were able to reopen.
Those living in the rest of England are now waiting to find out whether their tier will change in the Government’s announcement on Thursday.
But will Bristol be among the tier three areas that could be moved down into tier two Here’s everything you need to know.
Will Bristol be moved down to tier 2?
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire have all spent the past few weeks in tier three, which has seen all hospitality and indoor entertainment closed.
The infection rates in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset are now all below the national average, giving some hope that the tier level might change before Christmas.
Bristol currently has a rate of 115.2 per 100,000, significantly lower than the national average of 194.
North Somerset is sitting at 126 per 100,000 and South Gloucestershire has 153.3.
Despite this, cases in all three areas are on the rise again and there are now four areas in the region with a coronavirus case rate of more than 400 per 100,000.
When will the tiers be reviewed?
Tier allocations are to be reviewed every 14 days, but changes can be made more frequently than that.
When the tiers were first brought in, the Government confirmed that any changes would be discussed on Wednesday 16 December, with the results expected to be announced during a press conference the following day.
The changes will then come into effect from Saturday 19 December.
This means they will only be in place for four days before rules are relaxed nationwide over Christmas.
But, the restrictions will return from 28 December, after the five-day relaxation period ends.
How are the tiers decided?
Decisions on tier levels are based on a number of factors, including case detection rates in all age groups and in particular among the over 60s, according to the Department of Health.
How quickly case rates are rising or falling is also taken into account, as is local pressure on the NHS, including current and projected capacity.
Positivity in the general population, local context, and exceptional circumstances such as a local but contained outbreak, will also be taken into account.
If these factors improve an area can be moved down a tier, if they get worse then it could be moved up.
The final decision is made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the Covid Operations Committee, the Government said.
Where is in each tier? Tier 1: Medium alert South East South West Tier 2: High alert North West
Yorkshire West Midlands
East Midlands East of England
South East
South West
Tier 3: Very High alert North East
North West
Yorkshire and The Humber
West Midlands
East Midlands
East of England
Essex:
London
South East
South West