Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced changes to the tier allocations in England following the latest review.
The system has three tiers – medium (1), high (2) and very high (3) – referring to the perceived Coronavirus risk in each area.
The allocations are to be reviewed every two weeks. Click through the tabs below to learn more about the restrictions, or scroll down to find out which tier your local area is in from 19 December.
For details of the most recent changes, click here.
Guide to Restrictions
{tab Tier 1 – Medium Alert}
Areas of the country are given Tier 1 restrictions if they are not placed into the higher Tier 2 or Tier 3. In Tier 1, the following measures will apply;
- A maximum of six people can meet together indoors or outdoors, apart from with members of a single household or support bubble
- Everyone who can work from home should do so whenever possible
- Bars, pubs and restaurants must be table service only and must stop taking orders at 10pm and close by 11pm
- Overnight stays are permitted with household, support bubble or up to 6 people
- 15 guests can attend weddings, civil partnerships, wedding receptions and wakes – 30 can attend funerals
- Places of worship will be open but will have to follow the rule of six.
- Organised sport can continue outdoors but must follow the rule of six indoors (except for elite athletes, people under 18 and those who are disabled)
- People are advised to avoid busy times on public transport and to avoid car sharing
- Up to 4,000 people can attend outdoor live events
- Education, retail, indoor leisure, accommodation, personal case and many entertainment venues will remain open
{tab Tier 2 – High Alert}
In Tier 2, the following measures will apply;
- No mixing of households indoors apart from support bubbles – maximum of six can meet outside
- Everyone who can work from home should do so whenever possible
- Pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants and serving substantial meals with alcohol. Tier 1 restrictions on closing times also apply.
- Overnight stays are only permitted with household and support bubble
- 15 guests can attend weddings, civil partnerships, wedding receptions and wakes – 30 can attend funerals
- Places of worship will be open but interaction with people from different households will be banned
- Organised sport can continue outdoors but cannot take place indoors if there is any interaction with people from different households (except for people under 18 and those who are disabled)
- People are advised to reduce the number of journeys they make and to walk or cycle if possible
- Up to 2,000 people can attend outdoor live events
- Education, retail, indoor leisure, accommodation, personal case and many entertainment venues will remain open
{tab Tier 3 – Very High Alert}
In Tier 3, the following measures will apply;
- No mixing of households indoors apart from support bubbles – maximum of six can meet outside in some public spaces such as parks and public gardens
- Everyone who can work from home should do so whenever possible
- Hospitality must be closed, except for sales by takeaway, drive-through or delivery
- Overnight stays are only permitted with household and support bubble
- 15 guests can attend weddings, civil partnerships and wakes – 30 can attend for funerals – wedding receptions are not permitted
- Places of worship will be open but interaction with people from different households will be banned
- Organised sport can continue outdoors but cannot take place indoors if there is any interaction with people from different households (except for people under 18 and those who are disabled)
- People are advised to avoid travelling outside their area, except for essential reasons such as for work or education
- Only drive-in events will be permitted
- Education, retail and personal care venues will remain open – indoor leisure will be open but without group activities – indoor entertainment venues will be closed and most accommodation will be closed
{/tabs}
Allocations from 19 December
Tier 3 – Very High Alert
- Greater Manchester
- Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen
- Tees Valley Combined Authority
- North East Combined Authority
- The Humber
- West Yorkshire
- South Yorkshire
- Leicester and Leicestershire
- Derby and Derbyshire
- Lincolnshire
- Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
- Birmingham and Black Country
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
- Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull
- Slough
- Kent & Medway
- South Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- South & West Essex
- South Hertfordshire
Tier 2 – High Alert
- All other areas not listed in Tier 1 or Tier 3
Tier 1 – Medium Alert
- Isle of Wight
- Cornwall
- Isles of Scilly
- Herefordshire
