London has become the latest area in England to enter Tier 3 restrictions.
This news comes after 21 out of 32 boroughs showed a worrying rise in coronavirus cases. Currently, Havering is the worst affected area in London, with a rate of 583 per 10,000 people. Additionally, records showed the capital had the highest weekly case rates of any region in the country. There were approximately 270 cases per 100,000 people, on the week ending December 10.
Meanwhile, Westminster has the lowest rate of infection in the capital, at only 119 per 10,000 people, on the week ending December 11.
Tier 3 rules already apply to areas including Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Kent. You can use our postcode tool to find out which tier you fall under:
Ministers will examine tier allocations every 14 days, and the first review was due on Wednesday, December 16. The Government will announce any changes today.
However ministers have chosen to act "ahead of the formal review date" in order to place Greater London and parts of Essex and Kent under the highest level of curbs.
The hospitality and entertainment industry takes the biggest hit under the revised restrictions for Tier 3, with pubs and restaurants allowed to stay open for a takeaway service only.
Confirming that London would Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said: "I know that it will mean plans disrupted, and for businesses affected it will be a significant blow.
"But when the virus moves quickly, we must move quickly too and we must take the actions that are not necessarily easy but are effective."
Here is what the new Tier 3 restrictions look like:
Read more: How each lockdown tier will change under revamped Covid restrictions
What is very high level/Tier 3 lockdown?
A "uniform set of measures" apply in each area placed in Tier 3 across the country, rather than negotiations with each local authority.
Under Tier 3 restrictions, people must not meet anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor or outdoor setting, whether at home or in a public space. The 'rule of six' applies in open public spaces such as parks and beaches.
Hospitality, such as pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes, are allowed to stay open for takeaway service only. Previously, pubs and restaurants were allowed to stay open if they served substantial meals.
Cinemas remain closed, as do theatres and other indoor entertainment venues such as casinos, bingo halls and skating rinks.
But outdoor sports, such as golf and tennis, have the go-ahead, as does amateur team sports like Sunday-league football.
Matt Hancock confirmed that care home residents in all three tiers are allowed to see their families again over Christmas, as over a million tests are sent out to providers this month.
The other rules are:
- Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees (15 and 30 respectively), but wedding receptions are not allowed
- Non-essential shops are allowed to stay open, including hairdressers and other personal care businesses
- People should try to avoid travelling outside the ‘very high’ area they are in, or entering a ‘very high’ area, other than for things like work, education, accessing youth services, to meet caring responsibilities or if they are in transit
- Indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close, including cinemas, theatres, indoor play centres, concert halls, skating rinks and casinos
- Leisure and sports facilities, such as gyms, can stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead indoors
- Organised outdoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place
- Hotels, B&Bs, campsites and guest houses have to shut
- Places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies
- People are allowed to attend spectator sports, large events or performances in Tier 3 (indoors or outdoors), as now permitted in Tiers 1 and 2
- People should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if they are resident in a ‘very high’ area, or avoid staying overnight in a ‘very high’ area if they are resident elsewhere
Tier 1 lockdown rules explained: what you can and can't do in 'medium' risk alert areas
Tier 2 lockdown rules: what you can and can't do in 'high' alert areas
What does this mean for Christmas?
Boris Johnson confirmed on December 16, that plans to allow families to meet this Christmas will still go ahead, but has urged people to "exercise extreme caution" as they celebrate Christmas amid fears about the spread of coronavirus.
Updating the country on the Covid restrictions over the festive period on December 16, Boris Johnson shared his understanding that Christmas is a “time of year of immense emotional and spiritual importance. However, he urged the public to celebrate with “extreme caution”.
He added: “We don’t want to ban Christmas, That would be inhuman.”
Professor Chris Whitty then urged the public to celebrate with caution over Christmas, as we are “tantalisingly close” to defeating the virus with a vaccine.
Michael Gove had met virtually with the leaders of the devolved administrations on December 15 to discuss the four-nation 'Christmas bubble' plan, amid growing pressure to scrap household mixing over the festive period.
The meeting comes after two British medical journals urged the Government to reverse the "rash" five-day Christmas break, or face a surge in hospital admissions.
Those talks have led to an agreement amongst the four nations to continue with the plan, but with a stronger message warning people of the dangers.
The current rules, agreed by ministers, are a UK-wide plan to allow three households to mix for five days between December 23 and 27, subject to a vote in parliament and each of the devolved administrations.
These rules apply to all parts of the country, regardless of tiered restrictions outside of this period.
Mr Johnson previously said families should make "individual judgement" calls on whether to visit elderly relatives.
Families must decide on their extended bubbles in advance and will not be able to mix with anyone from outside that bubble during the festive break.
You can read more about the rules here.
Will Tier 3 restrictions change now we have a vaccine?
Despite the promising approval of the Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine, the Prime Minister said the tier system remains essential in keeping “the virus under control”.
Boris Johnson has said: “For the time being, you’ve got to take it that tiering will be a very, very important part of our campaign against coronavirus.”
Confirming on Monday, December 14 that London would soon move into Tier 3, Matt Hancock said the vaccines were "giving hope to more people and making this country safer".
"However it will take time for its benefits to be felt far and wide, so we must persevere because the virus remains just as deadly as it always has been."
At a press conference on December 14, Professor Kevin Fenton, the regional director of Public Health England, encouraged Londoners to accept the vaccine as soon as they have the chance. Speaking on the same day that the Government announced the capital would move to Tier 3; he stated the jab was “highly effective”, before suggesting it is one of the “keys to unlock the door to the end of this pandemic”.
What is happening with mass testing in Tier 3?
All Tier 3 local authorities will be offered support from NHS Test and Trace and the Armed Forces to deliver a six-week rapid community testing programme, making use of rapid lateral flow tests which give results within an hour.
This mass testing programme, which is similar to the system seen in Liverpool, began on Monday, December 14. It is taking place across 67 of the 119 areas in Tier 3, and will give over 1.6 million rapid lateral flow tests to high-risk communities.
However, several experts have criticised the tests, suggesting they offer false-negative results.
Do hairdressers need to close in Tier 3?
No. Hairdressers and beauty salons are not automatically shut in Tier 3 areas, despite other businesses being told to close.
However, hairdressers could later be closed if cases surge or fail to slow in those areas.
Hairdressers and beauty salons are deemed a lower risk than pubs and bars – which in Tier 3 must close – because there are fewer households mixing.
Do gyms have to close?
Under the current tier system, gyms are allowed to remain open in Tier 3, as are leisure and sports facilities.
But indoor group exercise classes, including dance and fitness sessions, should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms must also close.
Read more: Gyms are open: what the new tier rules mean for fitness centres post-lockdown
London in Tier 3: Your questions answered
Can I go to work?
The government has advised that anyone who cannot work from home should go to work. Whether they can work from home depends on the nature of the job and on consultations between employees and employers.
It is permissible to travel in and out of Tier 3 areas for work purposes.
Read more: Can I travel between Tiers?
Can I meet people outside?
You must not meet outdoors anyone outside your household or support bubble, unless there are no more than six people and the meeting takes place in certain open spaces. This includes parks, beaches, the countryside, forests, public gardens and playgrounds. You may not meet in a private garden.
Larger groups can be broken up and fined by police, starting at £200 and doubling for each further offence to a maximum of £6,400.
Can I see my partner?
Under Tier 3, people cannot visit other households indoors unless they are part of a support bubble. This is when a single-adult household joins socially and solely with another household.
Unless your partner is part of your social bubble, Tier 3 rules do not permit you to meet indoors. You may only meet in public, open spaces and must maintain social distancing outdoors.
Read more: Dating during lockdown
Can shops stay open?
Most shops can remain open so long as they are Covid-secure. Depending on where you live, some additional restrictions are in place.
Can restaurants and pubs stay open?
Pubs and restaurants in Tier 3 are required to operate takeaway only.
Businesses that fail to comply with the restrictions face fines of up to £10,000.
Read more: What are the Covid tier rules, and when will my area's tier be reviewed?
Are outdoor sports allowed?
You may meet more than six people for outdoor exercise and dance classes and organised outdoor sport.
Before and after the activity, you must not mingle in groups of more than six. If this is not possible, then no events should take place.
While elite sporting fixtures including Premier League football matches will continue in Tier 3 areas, spectators will not be allowed access to indoor or outdoor events.
Can I look after my grandchildren?
In Tier 3 only grandparent(s) from a single household can look after your child. So if a child has two sets of grandparents in two different households, only one of those households is permitted to look after them.
Grandparents who have multiple grandchildren living in different households may only provide childcare for one of those other households.
Read more: Childcare thrown into chaos
What are the restrictions for weddings and funerals?
Wedding ceremonies are allowed to take place across all tiers, but the number of attendees is limited to 15 and social distancing rules must be adhered to. Wedding receptions are now allowed under Tier 3 restrictions.
30 people can attend a funeral under the new restrictions. However, this number is reduced to 15 for linked commemorative ceremonies such as wakes and stonesettings.
Can I move house?
You can move home and continue to undertake house viewings, so long as you abide by social distancing guidelines and wear a face covering.
Can I travel between tiers?
Government guidelines advise that you should avoid travelling to any area subject to higher Tier restrictions, particularly Tier 3, unless it is an essential journey, such as travelling for work or education, or meeting caring responsibilities.
If you are a resident in a Tier 3 area, the Government advises that you do not stay overnight in another part of the UK unless for essential reasons.
Matt Hancock has advised that people in regions in the highest tier of restrictions "should avoid travelling outside their area".
Read more: Can I travel between tiers?
Can I stay in a hotel?
If you live in a Tier 3 area, you are no longer allowed to travel to hotels and other guest accommodation.
All accommodation services must shut, but there are exemptions for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training.
Can I play golf?
Yes. Outdoor sports, such as golf and tennis, have the go-ahead, as does amateur team sports like Sunday-league football.
However, under Tier 3, people must not meet anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor or outdoor setting – including a “sports facility”.
