This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55086621
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| Covid-19 tiers: Almost all of England facing tough virus rules | Covid-19 tiers: Almost all of England facing tough virus rules |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Health Secretary Matt Hancock sets out England's new coronavirus tier system | Health Secretary Matt Hancock sets out England's new coronavirus tier system |
| Most of England will be in the two toughest levels of measures when the national lockdown ends next week. | Most of England will be in the two toughest levels of measures when the national lockdown ends next week. |
| The new coronavirus tier restrictions will mean 55 million people remain banned from mixing with other households indoors from 2 December. | The new coronavirus tier restrictions will mean 55 million people remain banned from mixing with other households indoors from 2 December. |
| Large parts of the Midlands, North East and North West, including Manchester, as well as Kent, are in tier three. | Large parts of the Midlands, North East and North West, including Manchester, as well as Kent, are in tier three. |
| A majority of places are in the second highest level - tier two - including London, and Liverpool city region. | A majority of places are in the second highest level - tier two - including London, and Liverpool city region. |
| The Isle of Wight, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly - where there have been no recorded cases in the past week - will be the only areas of England in the lowest level of curbs - tier one. | The Isle of Wight, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly - where there have been no recorded cases in the past week - will be the only areas of England in the lowest level of curbs - tier one. |
| Tory revolt brewing over 'appalling' Covid tiers | Tory revolt brewing over 'appalling' Covid tiers |
| The system will be regularly reviewed, with the first scheduled for 16 December, so an area's tier level may change before Christmas. | The system will be regularly reviewed, with the first scheduled for 16 December, so an area's tier level may change before Christmas. |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference that the tougher rules would "strike a balance", adding that "every area has the means of escape". | Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference that the tougher rules would "strike a balance", adding that "every area has the means of escape". |
| What are the new rules? | What are the new rules? |
| Check the new tier for your area | Check the new tier for your area |
| Live updates as England's new tier arrangements confirmed | Live updates as England's new tier arrangements confirmed |
| Health Secretary Matt Hancock set out the reasoning behind the tier decisions for each area in a written ministerial statement. | Health Secretary Matt Hancock set out the reasoning behind the tier decisions for each area in a written ministerial statement. |
| He told the Commons: "Hope is on the horizon but we still have further to go. So we must all dig deep." | He told the Commons: "Hope is on the horizon but we still have further to go. So we must all dig deep." |
| Mr Hancock added that people "should see these restrictions not as a boundary to push but as a limit on what the public health advice says we can safely do in any area." | Mr Hancock added that people "should see these restrictions not as a boundary to push but as a limit on what the public health advice says we can safely do in any area." |
| Around 23 million people across 21 local authority areas will be in the highest level - tier three - including Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Tees Valley Combined Authority and North East Combined Authority. | Around 23 million people across 21 local authority areas will be in the highest level - tier three - including Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Tees Valley Combined Authority and North East Combined Authority. |
| Lancashire, Leicester, Lincolnshire, Slough, Bristol, Kent and Medway will also be in tier three. | Lancashire, Leicester, Lincolnshire, Slough, Bristol, Kent and Medway will also be in tier three. |
| Earlier, a rush for details of the tier allocations saw the government website repeatedly crash. | Earlier, a rush for details of the tier allocations saw the government website repeatedly crash. |
| On Thursday, another 498 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported in the UK, and a further 17,555 positive cases, the latest figures showed. | On Thursday, another 498 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported in the UK, and a further 17,555 positive cases, the latest figures showed. |
| Differences between the new tiers include restrictions on where households can meet up: | Differences between the new tiers include restrictions on where households can meet up: |
| tier one: the rule of six applies everywhere, indoors and out | tier one: the rule of six applies everywhere, indoors and out |
| tier two: the rule of six applies outdoors but there is no household mixing anywhere indoors | tier two: the rule of six applies outdoors but there is no household mixing anywhere indoors |
| tier three: can only meet other households in outdoor public spaces like parks, where the rule of six applies | tier three: can only meet other households in outdoor public spaces like parks, where the rule of six applies |
| Gyms and close-contact beauty services like hairdressers will be able to open in all tiers. Guidance said people in all tiers who can work from home, should continue to do so. | Gyms and close-contact beauty services like hairdressers will be able to open in all tiers. Guidance said people in all tiers who can work from home, should continue to do so. |
| Pubs in tier two can only open to serve "substantial meals", while those in tier three can only operate as a takeaway or delivery service. | Pubs in tier two can only open to serve "substantial meals", while those in tier three can only operate as a takeaway or delivery service. |
| Hospitality bosses said nearly nine in 10 venues believed they "are not viable to operate" within tiers two and three. | Hospitality bosses said nearly nine in 10 venues believed they "are not viable to operate" within tiers two and three. |
| Starting off high | Starting off high |
| Make no mistake, this is only a gradual step out of lockdown. | Make no mistake, this is only a gradual step out of lockdown. |
| At the start of November nearly half the country was in tier one, meaning households could mix indoors in people's homes and in pubs and restaurants as long as they kept to the rule of six. | |
| Now that is only possible in Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly. | Now that is only possible in Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly. |
| Infection rates are showing early signs of coming down, but the government is erring on the side of caution. | Infection rates are showing early signs of coming down, but the government is erring on the side of caution. |
| Research suggests they were too slow to put areas in higher tiers before lockdown. | Research suggests they were too slow to put areas in higher tiers before lockdown. |
| They do not want to make that mistake again - and so are starting off high in the hope they can move areas down the tiers. | They do not want to make that mistake again - and so are starting off high in the hope they can move areas down the tiers. |
| But it is not only about which area is in which tier. | But it is not only about which area is in which tier. |
| The top two tiers have been beefed up, particularly in regards to hospitality. | The top two tiers have been beefed up, particularly in regards to hospitality. |
| One ray of hope, the government says, is the experience of Liverpool. | One ray of hope, the government says, is the experience of Liverpool. |
| Before lockdown it was in tier three and seeing among the highest infection rates in the country. | Before lockdown it was in tier three and seeing among the highest infection rates in the country. |
| Today it has now been put in tier two with infection levels pretty close to the national average. | Today it has now been put in tier two with infection levels pretty close to the national average. |
| BBC analysis showed 713,573 people live in the new tier one areas, 32.2 million in tier two, and 23.3 million in tier three. | BBC analysis showed 713,573 people live in the new tier one areas, 32.2 million in tier two, and 23.3 million in tier three. |
| This is compared to 23.5 million in tier one pre-lockdown, 24 million in tier two, and 8.7 million in tier three. | This is compared to 23.5 million in tier one pre-lockdown, 24 million in tier two, and 8.7 million in tier three. |
| The new tier restrictions will be voted on by MPs next week, with the government already facing opposition from its own backbenchers. | The new tier restrictions will be voted on by MPs next week, with the government already facing opposition from its own backbenchers. |
| Leading Conservative MP Sir Graham Brady told BBC Radio 4's World at One he would vote against the measures, saying: "I do think that the policies have been far too authoritarian." | Leading Conservative MP Sir Graham Brady told BBC Radio 4's World at One he would vote against the measures, saying: "I do think that the policies have been far too authoritarian." |
| And former Brexit minister Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the recently-formed Covid Recovery Group (CRG), called for the government to publish analysis - ahead of the vote - of the impact restrictions were likely to have on controlling Covid, as well as the non-Covid health impact and the effect on "society, people's livelihoods and businesses". | And former Brexit minister Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the recently-formed Covid Recovery Group (CRG), called for the government to publish analysis - ahead of the vote - of the impact restrictions were likely to have on controlling Covid, as well as the non-Covid health impact and the effect on "society, people's livelihoods and businesses". |
| He said he was "open" to supporting measures "where it can clearly be demonstrated that the government intervention will save more lives than it costs". | He said he was "open" to supporting measures "where it can clearly be demonstrated that the government intervention will save more lives than it costs". |
| Meanwhile, there was a mixed reaction from regional leaders following the announcement of tier allocations. | Meanwhile, there was a mixed reaction from regional leaders following the announcement of tier allocations. |
| MPs and businesses in Cornwall expressed "huge relief" at being one of only three areas in England to be placed in tier one. | MPs and businesses in Cornwall expressed "huge relief" at being one of only three areas in England to be placed in tier one. |
| Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said the city region's move from tier three to tier two was the result of "hard work, dedication and sacrifice". | Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said the city region's move from tier three to tier two was the result of "hard work, dedication and sacrifice". |
| He said: "We embraced tier three restrictions and worked fast to deliver the testing pilot, bringing in the Army to help us deliver an efficient service." | He said: "We embraced tier three restrictions and worked fast to deliver the testing pilot, bringing in the Army to help us deliver an efficient service." |
| And Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the decision to place the capital in the second highest level - tier two - was the result of people's "monumental sacrifice" and would be a "welcome boost" for businesses. | And Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the decision to place the capital in the second highest level - tier two - was the result of people's "monumental sacrifice" and would be a "welcome boost" for businesses. |
| Bar chain owner Martin Greenhow: ''This is pure and simple business torture" | Bar chain owner Martin Greenhow: ''This is pure and simple business torture" |
| But there was anger among politicians in Lancashire that the whole county had been placed into the highest tier of restrictions, after council leaders asked for it to be split into different tiers to reflect varying rates. | But there was anger among politicians in Lancashire that the whole county had been placed into the highest tier of restrictions, after council leaders asked for it to be split into different tiers to reflect varying rates. |
| Elsewhere, Leicester MPs and businesses said the city's tier three restrictions were "extremely difficult to hear" following 150 days of lockdown. | Elsewhere, Leicester MPs and businesses said the city's tier three restrictions were "extremely difficult to hear" following 150 days of lockdown. |
| And Greater Manchester's mayor, Andy Burnham, said he hoped the region would be moved down from tier three in a couple of weeks. | And Greater Manchester's mayor, Andy Burnham, said he hoped the region would be moved down from tier three in a couple of weeks. |
| MASS TESTING: Where is it available? | MASS TESTING: Where is it available? |
| FACE MASKS: When do I need to wear one? | FACE MASKS: When do I need to wear one? |
| SCHOOLS: What will happen if children catch coronavirus? | SCHOOLS: What will happen if children catch coronavirus? |
| TESTING: How do I get a virus test? | TESTING: How do I get a virus test? |
| Decisions on tiers are based on public health recommendations informed by a series of public health data, including Covid-19 cases among the over-60s, positivity rates, pressure on the NHS and how quickly cases are rising or falling. | Decisions on tiers are based on public health recommendations informed by a series of public health data, including Covid-19 cases among the over-60s, positivity rates, pressure on the NHS and how quickly cases are rising or falling. |
| Areas placed in tier three will be eligible for rapid or "lateral flow" tests - which give results in about 20 minutes without the need for a lab - to help bring down infections and reduce restrictions. | Areas placed in tier three will be eligible for rapid or "lateral flow" tests - which give results in about 20 minutes without the need for a lab - to help bring down infections and reduce restrictions. |
| And they will be offered support by NHS Test and Trace and the armed forces to deliver a six-week rapid community testing programme. | And they will be offered support by NHS Test and Trace and the armed forces to deliver a six-week rapid community testing programme. |
| Devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the power to set their own coronavirus regulations, though all four UK nations have agreed a joint plan for Christmas. | Devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the power to set their own coronavirus regulations, though all four UK nations have agreed a joint plan for Christmas. |
| Earlier, data from the Office for National Statistics showed coronavirus infection rates in England were continuing to show signs of levelling off. | Earlier, data from the Office for National Statistics showed coronavirus infection rates in England were continuing to show signs of levelling off. |
| BRAND NEW DRAMA 'WE ARE WHO WE ARE': A show about first love and the messy, confusing exhilaration of being a teenager. From the director of Call Me By Your Name. | BRAND NEW DRAMA 'WE ARE WHO WE ARE': A show about first love and the messy, confusing exhilaration of being a teenager. From the director of Call Me By Your Name. |
| HOW TO VACCINATE THE WORLD: Who should be at the front of the queue for a vaccine? Those with the greatest need or the highest bidder? | HOW TO VACCINATE THE WORLD: Who should be at the front of the queue for a vaccine? Those with the greatest need or the highest bidder? |
| Are you a business owner? How will your business be affected by the latest rules? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a business owner? How will your business be affected by the latest rules? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: |
| WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 | WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 |
| Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay | Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay |
| Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy | Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy |