More than half of England is now in the strictest form of local lockdown after London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire joined swathes of the north in Tier 3.
In total 10.8million extra people have gone into Tier 3 as of 12.01am on Wednesday 16 December.
If no areas in the north and Midlands get knocked back down to Tier 2 later this week, there will be 34.2million people in Tier 3 in total - well over half of England.
The new arrangements took effect on December 2 after England’s blanket lockdown ended. Restrictions have been tightened after Government scientific advisers warned that previous measures had not been effective enough.
The final decisions on what areas ended up in which tier were made by the Prime Minister at the Covid Operations Committee.
And Boris Johnson convinced enough MPs to vote them through on Monday, despite an unprecedented rebellion on his backbenches.
The new rules took effect on the day it was revealed the first coronavirus vaccine had been approved for clinical use.
But Mr Johnson said that "for now" the vaccine "makes absolutely no difference".
Places that find themselves in the toughest tier, level 3, face a ban on households mixing, except in limited circumstances such as parks.
Bars and restaurants are limited to takeaway or delivery services and people are advised to avoid travelling outside their area.
Very few areas are in the the lowest tier - 1.
In Tier 1 areas people must obey the rule of six indoors and outdoors. These limits exclude families that are larger than six people, or support bubble.
Pubs can also sell alcohol without food as long as they operate by table service only.
Those areas that find themselves in tier 2 still face tough restrictions.
Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol alongside a substantial meal. Tier 2 also bans mixing indoors, including in public spaces such as pubs and restaurants. But people can meet up to six people outdoors, which includes pub gardens.
How did they decide the level of restrictions for an area?
These are the five key points ministers and officials used to decide.
- Analysis of cases across all age groups : Officials looked at the total number of cases in an area, their geographical spread and if they are on the rise.
- Analysis of cases specifically among the over-60s: Because older people are particularly vulnerable to serious cases of the diseases the number of cases among older people was considered separately from the general population.
- Rate by which cases are rising or falling: How is the R rate changing in a particular area - how fast are people spreading the virus
- Percentage of those tested in local populations who are found to have Covid (e.g. cases per 100,000)
- Current and projected pressures on the NHS: While cases may be on the downward swing in some areas the key determining factor might be the ability of the NHS ICU facilities to cope with predicted pressures.
Downing Street said the Government was always aware of the effect of restrictions on the economy.
What tier am I in?
You can find out quickly here - or consult our list below. We've reproduced the government's rationale of why each area is in the tier it's in.
Tier 1: Medium alert
South East
- Isle of Wight: The case rate is low and decreasing at 71 per 100,000 and lower in over 60s at 44 per 100,000. COVID-19 pressure on the NHS is low.
South West
- Cornwall: There are low case rates and test positivity in Cornwall and the case rates in all age groups are stable or declining.
- Isles of Scilly: There have been no cases in the Isles of Scilly in the last 7 days meaning there is strong evidence to make an allocation to tier 1.
Tier 2: High alert
North West
- Cumbria: The picture in Cumbria is broadly improving although case rates in Carlisle and South Lakeland are increasing – with increases likely due to a large school outbreak. Case rates in over 60s are above 100 per 100,000 in Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness. These case rates are too high for allocation to tier 1 but Cumbria’s trajectory does currently not warrant inclusion in tier 3.
- Liverpool City Region: There is continued improvement across the Liverpool city region. Case rates (including for the over 60s) are decreasing rapidly with some notable improvements in Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton. Cases have fallen by 69% over 6 weeks. However, despite improvements, case rates in over 60s remain high at 150+ per 100,000 people in all lower tier local authorities.
- Warrington and Cheshire: Case rates are continuing to decline across Warrington and Cheshire, with a 27.4% fall to 209 people per 100,000, in line with Liverpool City Region. However, case rates in those over 60 remain high (175/100,000) though falling. Positivity is 8.1%. Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS foundation Trust has 150 inpatients with COVID-19.
Yorkshire
- York: See below.
- North Yorkshire: Overall case rates (including for those over 60) in this region are improving in 7 of the 8 local authorities and lower than other parts of Yorkshire and The Humber but remain high overall (202/100,000 in all age groups and 145/100,000 for those aged over 60). Positivity is 8.5%. Rates in Scarborough are significantly higher than the rest of the region (334/100,000 in all age groups and 247/100,000 in those aged over 60) but falling rapidly.
West Midlands
- Worcestershire: While there has been a decline in case rates in all lower tier local authorities they do remain high (201/100,000),including in the over 60s (141/100,000), These case rates are too high for allocation to tier 1 but the downward trajectory – with a fall of 18.3% - does currently not warrant inclusion in tier 3. Hospital admissions of patients with COVID-19 have started to stabilise.
- Herefordshire: Herefordshire has a high case rate at 160.3/100,000. These rates are too high for allocation to tier 1 but the slight downward trajectory – a fall of 1.9% - does currently not warrant inclusion in tier 3.
- Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin: The case rate remains high (though falling) at 200/100,000. The case rate in over 60s remains high at 139/100.000 and is falling. Positivity is 7.2%.
East Midlands
- Rutland: This area is improving with a case rate of 125 per 100,000 and 118 per 100,000 for the over 60s, which while elevated is different from the surrounding areas. Positivity is 6.4%.
- Northamptonshire: Although improvements in the overall case rates have been seen recently, there is a continued rise in rates of COVID-19 in the over 60s. Over 60s case rate is 154 per 100,000. There is some evidence that the local NHS is seeing the proportion of people with COVID-19 being admitted and subsequently occupying beds stabilising, however COVID and non-COVID patients occupying beds in units treating more serious cases is high.
East of England
- Suffolk: There is an improving picture across the majority of Suffolk. The case rate has fallen to 82/100,000 with drops in rate in 4 of the 5 local authorities. There has been a >40% increase in weekly case rate to 128/100,000 in Ipswich compared to the previous week. Across Suffolk, case rates in over 60s are also falling (72/100,000). Positivity is 3.7%.
- All of Hertfordshire except Watford, Hertsmere, Broxbourne and Three Rivers.
- Cambridgeshire, including Peterborough: An improving picture with decreasing case rates across 5 of the 6 local authorities although the case rate is still high at 123/100,000 overall). Case rates in over 60s are also decreasing (58/100,000). Positivity has dropped to 5.2%.
- Norfolk: The majority of Norfolk is improving. Case rates are 123/100,000 and positivity is 5.0%. Case rates for over 60s remain over 100 per 100,000 in Great Yarmouth, Norwich and South Norfolk (with increasing trajectories in the last two areas).
- Tendring, Uttlesford and Colchester in Essex
- Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes: The overall case rate is still increasing in two of the 3 lower tier local authorities. The overall case rate is high at 178/100,000 and it is 113/100,000 in the over 60s although this rises to 185/100,000 in Luton. Positivity 6.9%. There is pressure on the local NHS.
South East
- East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton and Hove: Case rates in Sussex are at 120 per 100,000 with a total positivity of 4.5%. However, the trend is increasing in several areas. NHS admissions have been fairly stable in the last month but there is increasing occupancy in units treating more serious cases.
- Surrey: Case rates are stable or improving in all areas with the overall rate at 139 per 100,000. The most concerning lower tier local authorities are those that neighbour London (Spelthorne and Runnymede) with case rates over 200 per 100,000, and high case rates in the over 60s are observed in neighbouring Surrey Heath and Woking. Surrey Heartlands Health & Care Partnership (STP) report admissions to hospital from COVID-19 patients were fairly stable in the last month.
- Reading
- Wokingham
- Bracknell Forest
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- West Berkshire: (For all of the above also) An improving picture across the area with the exception of Slough and Reading. Slough has high case rates (326 per 100,000 overall and 219 per 100,000 for the over 60s) and relatively high positivity of 12%. The case rate and positivity away from Slough do not justify inclusion at tier 3.
- Hampshire (except the Isle of Wight), Portsmouth and Southampton: There is a mixed picture across this area although the overall case rate is now 152/100,000 and falling in almost all areas. NHS admissions were increasing rapidly until mid-November and are now stable.
- Buckinghamshire: A broadly stable or improving picture across Buckinghamshire with a case rate at 138 per 100,000 and positivity at 6.4%. These case rates remain too high for allocation to tier 1.
- Oxfordshire: Positive improvements across key indicators across all areas in Oxfordshire, but case rates still too high for tier 1. Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire And Berkshire West STP hospital admissions have been fairly stable in recent months.
South West
- South Somerset, Somerset West and Taunton, Mendip and Sedgemoor
- Bath and North East Somerset: There are very small increases in the case rates in this area, however overall case rates and those in over 60s remain high (154/100,000 and 102/100,000 respectively). Positivity is stable at 5.5%.
- Dorset
- Bournemouth
- Christchurch
- Poole: For all four of the above: Case rates are falling across the area (131/100,000 in all cases and 99/100,000 in the over 60s). However the over 60 case rate is still high at 151/100,000 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Positivity is 5.2%. In addition, the Dorset STP reports daily admissions to hospitals are increasing.
- Gloucestershire: Case rates in Gloucestershire remain high at 162/100,000. While a decline has been seen in the case rate in the over 60s, this remains at 92/100,000. Positivity is 6.3%.
- Wiltshire and Swindon: Case rates continue to fall in Swindon but are increasing in Wiltshire. Overall case rates are 143/100,000 and 93/100,000 in the over 60s. Positivity is 6.2%. Swindon and Wiltshire STP are reporting increasing admissions to hospital.
- Devon: Case rates are 121/100,000 overall though there are higher rates in Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter. The case rate in the over 60s is 85/100,000 though significantly higher in Exeter (155.9/100,000). Positivity is 4.2%. There is pressure at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
Tier 3: Very High alert
London
- all 32 boroughs plus the City of London.
East of England
- Essex (except Tendring, Uttlesford and Colchester), Thurrock and Southend on Sea.
Watford, Hertsmere, Broxbourne and Three Rivers in Hertfordshire.
North East
-
Tees Valley Combined Authority: While case rates are now decreasing in all lower tier local authorities, they remain very high at 390 people per 100,000 across the region, with positivity also very high at 13.3%. The case rate in over 60s remains very high at 292 per 100,000. NHS admissions in the area have remained high in November.
- Hartlepool
- Middlesbrough
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Redcar and Cleveland
- Darlington
-
North East Combined Authority: The region continues to see very high case rates, overall 318 people per 100,000, although this figure is either stable or falling in all parts of the region. Case rate in over 60s remains very high at 256 per 100,000. NHS admissions in the area have remained high in November.
- Sunderland
- South Tyneside
- Gateshead
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- North Tyneside
- County Durham
- Northumberland
North West
- Greater Manchester: While there has been continued improvement in Greater Manchester, weekly case rates remain very high, especially amongst those aged over 60, at around 260 per 100,000 people. The pressure on the local NHS is decreasing in some areas but remains a concern; Manchester University hospital and Pennine Acute Trust remain under significant pressure.
- Lancashire
- Blackpool
- Blackburn with Darwen: For all three of the above: While there have been improvements in some areas, case rates and the proportion of tests which are positive for COVID-19 remain high. Case rates in over 60s are very high (over 200 per 100,000) in 6 lower tier local authorities. There is still pressure on the NHS in this region.
Yorkshire and The Humber
- The Humber: The picture in Humber is improving with case rates now falling in 3 of the 4 lower tier local authorities. However, case rates in all ages and in over 60s remain very high (431/100,000 and 344/100,000 respectively). Positivity is 12.6%. There is ongoing pressure on the local NHS.
- West Yorkshire: This area is improving with case rates falling in all 5 lower tier local authorities. However, case rates in all ages and rates in over 60s remain very high (389/100,000 and 312/100,000 respectively). Positivity is 13.9%.
- South Yorkshire: This area is improving with case rates falling in all 4 lower tier local authorities. However, case rates in all ages and rates in those over 60 remain very high (274/100,000 and 223/100,000 respectively). Positivity is 11.0%. There is pressure on local NHS Trusts.
West Midlands
- Birmingham and Black Country: While case rates are improving (down 8.3%) they remain very high (390/100,000). There is a similar trend for positivity. Pressure on the NHS remains high.
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent: While the situation is improving with case rates down 13.4%, case rates and test positivity are both very high across this area (391/100,000 and 11.1% respectively). The pressure on the local NHS remains very high, including in units treating the more serious cases.
- Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull: The case rate remains very high (though falling) across this area at 236/100,000. The case rate in over 60s remains very high at 182/100,000. There is a clear upward trend in case rates in over 60s in 3 of the 7 local authority areas. Positivity is 9.0%. The pressure on the local NHS remains high.
East Midlands
- Derby and Derbyshire: There has been improvement in this area, but case rates remain very high at 275 per 100,000, and in those over 60 it is 220 per 100,000. The pressure on the local NHS remains high.
- Nottingham and Nottinghamshire: There has been an improvement, but case rates remain very high in the over 60s at 211 per 100,000. The overall case rate is 244 per 100,000 and positivity is 10%. The proportion of hospital beds taken up by COVID-19 patients is high but appears to be falling.
- Leicester and Leicestershire: Improvements have been seen in overall case rates in all but one lower tier local authority, but remain very high at 355 per 100,000, including in over 60s at 250 per 100k. The pressure on the local NHS remains very high.
- Lincolnshire: There has been an overall improvement, but case rates remain high throughout the county, at 307 per 100,000 and in the over 60s it is 281 per 100,000. NHS pressures in Lincolnshire remain high and show signs of increasing, particularly for the units treating the more serious cases
South East
- Slough (remainder of Berkshire is tier 2: High alert): The weekly case rate in Slough is much higher than surrounding areas at over 320 per 100,000 people compared with 155 per 100,000 in the rest of Berkshire and 138 in Buckinghamshire. Test positivity is also much higher at 12%.
- Kent and Medway: Case rates are high and continuing to rise with large increases in case rates in almost all areas in the last 7 days. Some of the highest case rates in the country are currently seen in Kent. Rising case rates in people aged over 60 are a particular concern. Positivity is also increasing in 10 of the 13 lower tier local authorities. Kent And Medway STP are reporting hospital admissions are increasing and mutual aid necessary across the county.
South West
- Bristol (for all three): The overall picture remains concerning with very high case rates overall (325/100,000) and in the over 60s (208/100,000). Positivity is 10.4%. Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset are part of a wider travel to work area and thus form a natural geographic grouping, separate to the surrounding area.
- South Gloucestershire
- North Somerset
