What is Tier 2 lockdown and which areas are under the Covid rules?
A FURTHER 16 areas in England are moving into Tier 2 of the new national risk alert system aimed at controlling the spread of Covid-19.
That means affected areas will have new restrictions on households mixing in homes and hospitality venues to curb coronavirus, alongside measures such as maintaining social distancing and the use of face coverings.
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What is a Tier Two lockdown?
Areas in Tier Two - where there is a high risk of coronavirus - are banned from mixing with other households indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.
When outside, only two households will be able to mix.
The PM said this "primarily aims to reduce household transmission by banning mixing indoors".
Social distancing measures such as the "rule of six" outdoors and the 10pm curfew will still apply in this tier.
Most areas which are currently subject to local restrictions will automatically move into it.
FOR TIER THREE RESTRICTIONS CLICK HERE
What areas are under a Tier Two lockdown?
Boris Johnson unveiled the three tier system levels of medium, high and very high on October 12.
South Yorkshire (as of October 24) and Greater Manchester (from October 23) have both been bumped out of Tier 2, to join Lancashire and Liverpool City Region in Tier 3.
Oxford and the Midlands have been slapped with Tier 2 restrictions which come in on Saturday, October 31, 2020.
Other areas such as Luton, Dudley, Derby City, Staffordshire, Telford and the Wrekin will also go into Tier 2.
These measures will be reviewed every 14 days to consider whether they are still appropriate.
The move is a response to a continuing rise in coronavirus cases in households and communities across the city.
Late on Friday, October 30 it was announced that Carlisle and the surrounding areas will enter Tier 2 restrictions from the Saturday, while Bath, Cambridge and Brighton are all also at risk of doing the same.
reports that officials in Slough are "ready" to impose tougher Tier 2 restrictions.
Slough is currently in Tier 1, but the Berkshire town's nervous authorities have asked the Government to be moved into Tier 2.
Wokingham also looks set to go from Tier 1 to Tier 2 this month due to spiralling coronavirus infections, reports the .
Hertfordshire's health bosses have also warned that the county is at the "higher end" of Tier 1 and stronger restrictions aren't "far off", warns the .
The weekly rate of cases for the whole of Herts is 86 cases per 100,000 - the government threshold of going into Tier 2 restrictions is a rate of 100 per 100,000 residents.
These are the areas currently under Tier Two "high alert" lockdown as of October 22, 2020.
Cheshire
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Cheshire East
Bedfordshire
Warrington
Derbyshire
- Chesterfield
- Erewash
- High Peak - the wards of Tintwistle, Padfield, Dinting, St John's, Old Glossop, Whitfield, Simmondley, Gamesley, Howard Town, Hadfield South and Hadfield North
- North-East Derbyshire
Elmbridge
Essex
London
Oxfordshire
West Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North East
- Newcastle
- South Tyneside
- North Tyneside
- Gateshead
- Sunderland
- Durham
- Northumberland
Tees Valley
- Middlesbrough
- Redcar and Cleveland
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Darlington
- Hartlepool
West Midlands
- Birmingham
- Coventry
- Sandwell
- Solihull
- Wolverhampton
- Walsall
- Dudley
- Staffordshire
- Telford
Leicester
- Leicester
- Oadby and Wigston
Nottingham
What are the Tier two restrictions?
- You cannot have people you do not live with over to your house
- You cannot visit anyone else’s house
- You cannot socialise with anyone outside your household in pubs, restaurants or any other indoor setting
- You can still meet up to six people in a private garden or public outdoor setting, such as a park
- Businesses will not be legally mandated to close
- Social distancing and the 10pm curfew will be maintained
When did the Tier Two lockdown restrictions come into force?
All the tiered restrictions came into effect on Wednesday, October 14.
Liverpool was the only area to initially come under Tier Two guidelines with other locations added over time as coronavirus levels rose.
In London, tier two restrictions started from midnight on October 16.
How long will Tier Two lockdown restrictions last?
Restrictions will be reviewed regularly, and will be eased depending on the data.
The measures will be reviewed every month, however, this doesn't necessarily mean they will be in place for a specific amount of time.
The restrictions could be in place for six months.
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Will I be fined for not following the Tier 2 rules?
There are some fines that will apply irrespective of the new tiered system.
Fines of £200 apply to anyone caught without wearing a face mask when a covering is required.
The penalty doubles with each offence, up to £6,400 for repeat offences.
The fines for breaking self isolation starts at £1,000 and can rise to up to £10,000 for repeat offences.
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Under Tier Two, you must not meet in groups of more than six outside. Breaking this rule could result in a £200 fine.
Businesses can be fined if they do not collect test and trace details from customers and they must ensure premises are Covid-secure.