The new tier system

Today, the Health Secretary set out tier allocations across England that each area will enter following the end of nationwide restrictions and the return of a localised tier system - ensuring we keep the virus under control to save lives and protect the NHS. 

  • Thanks to the hard work and sacrifice made by people up and down the country, we are now in a position where we can move out of national lockdown and into more targeted local, tiered restrictions.
     
  • Today Matt Hancock announced which areas will be placed into which tier. In reintroducing the localised approach, we are also making a number of changes to the previous system:

    • The 10pm closing time for hospitality has been modified to last orders at 10pm and closing time at 11pm. This allows customers to depart in a staggered way and provides greater flexibility.
       
    • Across all tiers, non-essential retail will be able to remain open and operate in a Covid-Secure way.
       
    • Gyms will be allowed to remain open.
       
    • Spectator sport can resume with capacity limits and social distancing, providing more consistency with indoor performances in theatres and concert halls.
  • Cumbria will be in Tier 2 as will most of North Yorkshire and an area around Cheshire and the Wirral. Much of Lancashire and the North East is in Tier three.
  • Nobody wants to throw away the gains of the difficult past few week. Therefore, as the Prime Minister made clear, they will be tougher than in October. We will continue to support those areas facing tier 3 restriction areas with mass community testing, to help those areas move out of the highest tier and provide extra funding to support them as they live with these restrictions. 
  • The government has committed to keeping these measures under review, with the first review taking place before Christmas. This review will allow for the possibility of areas which continue to make progress in slowing the spread of the disease to be moved down a tier in advance of Christmas.
  • Only by keeping the virus under control through these local measures will we be able to see friends and family over Christmas in a relatively safe way while managing the threat the virus still poses. As mass testing and vaccines are rolled out through winter and into the spring, the need for even localised restrictions will gradually reduce – and life can once again return closer to normality.

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