When will we know which areas will be in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 after lockdown and how will it be decided?
Tier 3 #Tier3
Boris Johnson has outlined plans for a new local lockdown system which will be put in place when the national lockdown ends on December 2.
England will not be returning to the same tier system that was in place before the national lockdown.
Instead, the government is introducing a ‘strengthened’ system which will see tougher measures in place for those in areas under high or very high alert.
The system will still have three tiers – with Tier 1 enjoying the most freedom, and Tier 3 seeing the strictest lockdown measures.
For Tier 1 and 2, the hospitality curfew will be extended to 11pm, with last orders called at 10pm followed by an hour of ‘drinking up’ time.
In Tier 3, hospitality venues will have to close and will only be permitted to provide takeaway and deliveries.
In Tier 2, it will only be possible to purchase alcohol in a bar restaurant if you are sitting down for a substantial meal.
The rules around household mixing will stay the same as they were before.
The rule of six will be in place indoors and outdoors for those in Tier 1, while household mixing will be banned indoors in Tier 2, and everywhere apart from a limited number of outdoor spaces in Tier 3.
When will we know which tier we are in?
It is understood that more areas than before will be placed under the higher tiers in a bid to keep the virus under control.
The government has said that areas will not necessarily go back to the tier that they were in before the national lockdown.
Ministers and council leaders will be looking closely at local infection rates and case numbers as decisions are made this week.
An announcement setting out a full list of which areas will be under which tier is expected on Thursday (November 26).
How will it be decided?
Decisions will be made by looking at the following criteria:
Local leaders in areas heading into a Tier 3 lockdown will no longer be invited to discuss the move with the government, as they were last time around.
The government will instead be imposing restrictions on areas under Tier 3.