London will be placed in Tier 2 of England’s new system of COVID-19 restrictions, but Birmingham and Manchester will be in Tier 3.
Matt Hancock will make a statement in the House of Commons on the new tiers shortly, but prior to the announcement, the government launched a postcode checker for England’s regions.
Areas in Tier 3 include:
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
- Leeds
- Hull
- City of Wolverhampton
- Blackpool
- Kent
Areas in Tier 2 include:
- Liverpool
- London
- Dorset
The tiered system has been strengthened since the original rules were in place before lockdown, with many more areas in the higher tiers in a bid to keep infection rates down.
What do the rules under Tier 1-2-3 mean?
Under the new system in all three tiers, non-essential shops in all areas can reopen, as can gyms, hairdressers and other personal care businesses, with the formal instruction to stay at home coming to an end. The “rule of six” will again apply for outdoor gatherings in all areas.
Places of worship will be able to open and weddings will be allowed within local restrictions.
What does Tier 1 look like?
Hospitality businesses in England can stay open until 11pm with table service only but last orders must be made by 10pm, in an effort to stagger departures. The “rule of six” will also remain in place indoors, meaning social household mixing is still allowed.
Spectator sport is set to resume, albeit with limits on numbers and abiding by social distancing. In tier 1, there will be a maximum crowd capacity outdoors of 50% of occupancy of the stadium or 4,000 people, whichever is smaller. Indoors, the maximum capacity is 1,000.
In tier 1, people will be encouraged to minimise travel and work from home where possible. Support bubbles – which allowed a single household to join with another household – are also being broadened across all tiers.
Parents with a child under one will be able to form a support bubble, as well as those with a child under five who needs continuous care, such as a child with a disability.
Also, in cases where there is a single adult carer, for a partner with dementia, for example, they would also be able to form a support bubble.
What does Tier 2 look like?
Although hospitality venues will be allowed to stay open until 11pm – with last orders at 10pm – only those that serve substantial meals can operate. It means pubs and bars that do not will have to close.
As before, social mixing outside of households or support bubbles will not be allowed indoors. The rule of six will apply outdoors.
Spectators will be allowed to watch sport in tier 2, with a maximum crowd capacity outdoors of 50% of the capacity of the stadium or 2,000 people, whichever is smaller. Indoors, the maximum capacity is 1,000.
Indoor entertainment venues, such as cinemas, casinos and bowling alleys, must also close.
What does Tier 23 look like?
Hospitality venues will have to close, except for delivery and takeaway service.
In tier 3, hotels and other accommodation providers must also close, except for specific work purposes where people cannot return home.
Outdoor sports, including golf and tennis, will be allowed to continue in all tiers, as will amateur team sports such as football.
Unlike the first two tiers, spectators will not be allowed to watch sport in tier 3.