The German government implemented a travel ban on flights from the UK as of midnight (Berlin time) on Dec 20. Much of the country has been left disappointed after Boris Johnson introduced a brand new Tier 4 on Saturday in a bid to tackle the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Tier 4 lockdown: Plans to add even tighter level of Covid restrictions 2 comments Fresh plans are being drawn up to add an even stricter level of restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Lockdown rules are being eased across the UK. What is a lateral flow test and where to get lateral flow test kits? While some areas will be in Tier 4, others will be in lower Tier 1, 2 and 3 restrictions. Pubs and restaurants remain shut in Tiers 3 and 4, except for takeaway. MPS have demanded Boris Johnson let them have an urgent vote on the new lockdown after new Tier 4 measure will be brought in for London and the South East tomorrow. The World Health Organisation has called on its members in Europe to step up their own measures against coronavirus in the face of the new variant circulating in Britain. Matt Hancock confirms tier 4 lockdown is on the cards as coronavirus cases rise The Health Secretary told BBC Breakfast: "We've always said all along that we take nothing off the table" birminghammail These are subject to change, however, and following the next review of the tier system at the end of the month, it’s likely that more areas will take on Tier 4 lockdown restrictions for the new year and into 2021. Tier 4 is the highest level of restrictions and the only main difference between these rules and a full-scale lockdown is that the measures are localised, so they only apply in certain areas of the country while a full lockdown is nationwide. pic.twitter.com/ZhyqNYbxqg, — Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) December 20, 2020. (1/3), — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 19, 2020. Don't risk a fine in the lead up to #Christmas. More areas were placed into Tier 4 following Matt Hancock's statement in the House of Commons on Dec 30. Mr Johnson urged people to "carefully consider whether they need to travel abroad." Professional football, rugby and other matches will still take place with limits on crowd sizes, which are a maximum of 4,000 in Tier one, dropping to 2,000 in Tier two. Just weeks after reopening, gyms and leisure centres have been shut again in areas placed into Tier 4. Tier 4 residents must not travel out of their area and work from home if they can. EU countries held discussions on 22 Dec and decided to lift the complete travel ban, allowing national citizens, foreign residents and key workers to travel from the UK to their home country, if they have a negative Covid test. Festive bubbles in Tier … Those restrictions came into force at midnight on Dec 20 causing mass disruption at ports. In all events, social distancing should be maintained between people who don’t live together or share a support bubble. "And now again we are back in the eye of the storm with a second wave of coronavirus sweeping Europe and, indeed, this country.". This news comes after scientists warned of the rapid spread of the new variant coronavirus. A new variant of Covid-19, which is up to 70 per cent more transmissible, is spreading from London and the South East across the country. On Dec 31, more than 895,000 people moved up from Tier 2 to Tier 4, while 19.1 million people moved from Tier 3 to the toughest level of restrictions. Mr Hancock said: “From 12.01am on Boxing Day Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, those parts of Essex not yet in Tier 4, Waverley in Surrey and Hampshire including Portsmouth and Southampton but with the exception of the New … Asked whether Tier 4 curbs work, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “It is down to people’s behaviour, frankly. Some of the rules on what you can and cannot changed on 12 April. Could there be a Tier 5? On Jan 3, Mr Johnson was interviewed by Andrew Marr, and went on to say that "It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country. Tier four – a new addition to England’s tiered lockdown system – was introduced in December. A new YouGov poll showed that the public overwhelmingly supports the new Tier 4, by 74% to 17%, and Christmas restrictions, by 67% to 25%. The first to do so was the Dutch government, which banned all passenger flights from Britain until Jan 1 after finding a case in the Netherlands of the new coronavirus strain. While some areas will be in Tier 4, others will be in lower Tier 1, 2 and 3 restrictions. What’s the difference between Tier 4 and lockdown? However, in a "small number" of Tier 4 areas where infection rates are highest, the Government will implement its contingency plan so that only vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers attend primary schools in person. The architect of the first lockdown claimed that Tier 4 could last until April. Online social media chatter has given rise to the idea that police will be enforcing roadblocks in Tier 4 areas over the next week, to prevent households from travelling across the country over the festive season. Duchess of Cambridge acts as peacemaker as Princes Harry and William share private chat, Harmonious farewell: all of the music from the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, 'We are here for The Queen': Royal fans at Windsor pay tributes to 'fantastic' Prince Philip, Why the Queen chose loyal lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, for her loneliest journey, roll out of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, The Prime Minister stated in a press conference on December 30, new mutation of Covid grew “exponentially” during the November lockdown, Secondary schools and colleges will delay the return of most students for two weeks, all schools in all boroughs across London, Leicester City and Leicestershire, including Oadby and Wigston, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth, Blaby, Charnwood, North West Leicestershire, Melton), Northamptonshire (Corby, Daventry, East, Kettering, Northampton, Wellingborough), Derby and Derbyshire (Amber Valley, South Derbyshire, Bolsover, North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (Gedling, Ashfield, Mansfield, Rushcliffe, Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood, Broxtowe), Birmingham and Black Country (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton), Warwickshire (Rugby, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwick, North Warwickshire, Stratford-upon-Avon), Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, including Stafford, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Newcastle under Lyme and Tamworth, Lancashire (Burnley, Pendle, Blackburn with Darwen, Ribble Valley, Blackpool, Preston, Hyndburn, Chorley, Fylde, Lancaster, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire, Wyre), Cumbria (Eden, Carlisle, South Lakeland, Barrow-in-Furness, Copeland, Allerdale), Greater Manchester (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan), Tees Valley (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees ), North East (County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, Sunderland), Gloucestershire (Gloucester, Forest of Dean, Cotswolds, Tewkesbury, Stroud, Cheltenham), Somerset Council (Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton, South Somerset), All 32 London boroughs plus the City of London, Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings, Hampshire (Basingstoke and Deane Borough, East Hampshire District, Eastleigh Borough, Fareham Borough, Hart District, Rushmoor Borough, Test Valley Borough, Winchester City Councils), Pubs, bars and restaurants can only serve takeaway, Indoor gyms and leisure centres must close, Personal care services and non-essential retail must close, People living in Tier 4 cannot bubble with other households over Christmas, Residents should stay at home as much as possible, Residents should not enter or leave Tier 4 areas unless for essential reasons, Residents from Tier 4 areas should not stay overnight in other areas, They cannot go abroad apart from "limited exceptions" such as work, Weddings and civil partnerships can only take place in exceptional circumstances, with a limit of six attendees, The rate of infection, particularly among the over-60s, How quickly case rates are rising or falling, Pressure on the NHS – including current and projected NHS capacity, Local context and exceptional circumstances such as a local but contained outbreaks. What are the rules in Tier 4? Hertfordshire local authorities: Broxbourne, Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford. So what are the new Tier 4 lockdown rules in place? Unheard of before this month, Tier 4 lockdown is now the highest level of coronavirus restrictions and affects much of the south of England with new rules in place. This briefing covers the restrictions and requirements for the Tier 4 areas. Here's what we know about Tier 4 restrictions. Tier 4 is, in essence, similar to a lockdown. Tier four lockdown to continue in Wales until next review. However, it appears not to have been effective enough as a January lockdown is now certainly on the way for millions of people as the prime minister made a huge U-turn on the Christmas lockdown rules over the weekend, leaving many families at odds over what to do. The most dangerous and flagrant breaches will see fines given out. Health Coronavirus Live Coronavirus LIVE: As Sheffield could face Tier 4 lockdown Welcome to The Star’s live blog on Wednesday, December 30. Between December 23 and January 1, the weekly case rate in England rose to 401 per 100,000, a 32 per cent increase on the previous week. Eligibility. Select from premium Tier 4 Lockdown of the highest quality. Tier 4 lockdown hits London, southeast England as virus cases surge Dec. 19, 2020 11:45 AM ET Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust ETF (FXB) By: Brandy Betz , SA News Editor 76 Comments Flights and passenger transport by rail, bus and ship is banned until Jan 6. Obviously, if you’re in a high-risk group, it’s safer to avoid going out. Cases of the new mutation of Covid grew “exponentially” during the November lockdown, the Government’s Nervtag committee minutes revealed, and even Tier 4 measures may not be able to stop its march. Those who are deemed to be clinically extremely vulnerable in Tier 4 areas will be told to follow the same guidance as during November's England-wide lockdown, which urged those people to … In this category, the ‘Stay At Home’ message continues - by law - to help stem coronavirus cases. Guidance on how you can keep safe and what rules are in place to protect people at alert level 4. Supermarkets, greengrocers, newsagents and corner shops remain open. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA. However, being in a lockdown doesn’t mean that you need to sit at home 24/7. Instead, the police are enforcing the new laws by consent as they have always done. So here are the best things to do in London even in Tier 4 that are fun and safe. This includes stone settings and ash scatterings, however, anyone facilitating these events is not included in the limits. Schools will stay open where they normally would over the holiday season but secondary schools and colleges will have to take on lateral testing in the new year. "The view about shielding is that, in the first wave, shielding did many things that were useful but also did many things that were actually actively harmful. According to the prime minister, the tier 4 measures will be in place for an initial two-week period and will be reviewed on 30 December. Extra @BTP officers deployed to keep people safe. By Jonathon Hill Jonathon_Hill96 Trainee Reporter. Now, French citizens, British nationals living in France and hauliers are able to travel again - if they have had a recent negative test. Some three quarters of the UK population are now in tier 4, including Lincoln, Boston, South Kesteven, North Kesteven, East Lindsey, West Lindsey and South Holland. How long will the tier 4 lockdown last? Tier 4 explained including changes from 20 January 2021 As before, Tier 4 Regulations are the highest level of restriction in England and have been amended from 6 January to set out the restrictions now applicable to the national lockdown. Read More According to the prime minister, “there is no evidence the variant causes more severe illness or higher mortality” and it’s likely that the coronavirus vaccine would still offer effective protection, it “does appear to be passed on significantly more easily”. We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. In the lower tiers, people attending church are required to observe the restrictions on household mixing indoors as set out for their tier. The Prime Minister stated in a press conference on December 30 that "we must face the reality that the sheer pace of this new variant requires us now to take even tougher action in some areas". People who were asked to “cocoon” themselves at home for weeks on end could be asked to do so again, Prof Whitty indicated. From Jan 1, transport operators can apply to the German authorities for an exemption to transport people who are resident in Germany. Do you have any questions on Tier 4 restrictions or the new coronavirus strain? Enforcement is always a last resort for officers when engaging with members of the public around coronavirus restrictions. Tier 2 lockdown rules: what you can and can't do in 'high' alert areas Tier 4 lockdown: What are rules and which areas are affected? Alright, bad news everyone, since the 20th of December, we are all in the lockdown again. “First, we will introduce new restrictions in the most affected areas – specifically those parts of London, the South East and the East of England which are currently in tier 3. A general “stay at home” order has been issued, all non-essential shops and businesses must close but click-and-collect services are allowed to continue. It’s thought that in the future, the Pfizer and Oxford vaccine will be the main thing to take the UK out of lockdowns permanently. To move down a tier, the region has to prove that cases and the infection rate is decreasing in all age groups including the over-60s. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has implemented a Tier 4 lockdown for southeast England and London due to spiking coronavirus cases. Tier 4 is now the most severe level of restrictions in England and equates to a full lockdown, similar to what we saw in the March and November lockdown when all non-essential businesses and shops closed. Anyone living in a Tier 4 area is not allowed to leave to travel to lower-prevalence cities, towns and villages. The strong similarities are why, for many of the millions of people who entered Tier 4 on Saturday December 20 and will do so later on, the new restrictions will come with a real sense of deja vu. In an interview with Andrew Marr, Boris Johnson did not mention another Tier, but he signaled more restrictions could be introduced. We recommend people avoid changing support bubbles unless absolutely necessary, in order to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus between households. Tier 4 lockdown: Plans to add even tighter level of Covid restrictions 2 comments Fresh plans are being drawn up to add an even stricter level of restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Find the perfect Tier 4 Lockdown stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. This second variant has been traced to South Africa. Stay at home! Currently, it’s not known how long the new Tier 4 restrictions will last as it very much depends on whether the new variant of coronavirus can be kept under control. Working from home is essential where possible. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has described it as “impossible” to determine how long the restrictions would be in place and said that he didn’t want them “to be in place a day longer than they needed to be” but suggested they could be around for “many months”. According to the prime minister, the tier 4 measures will be in place for an initial two-week period and will be reviewed on 30 December. The restrictions also apply to entertainment venues such as cinemas, bowling alleys, bingo halls, casinos, indoor skating rinks and amusement arcades. Tier 4 could last for four months as Boris Johnson told to apologise to Britain. However, receptions remain banned in Tier 3. United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday that London and Southeast U.K. have been hit with a “new variant” of coronavirus and that he will be instituting tougher restrictions to combat the outbreak. France imposed a 48-hour travel ban from the UK. In Tier 4 the ‘Stay At Home’ message will be put in law. The prime minister himself even described the highest tier as “broadly equivalent” to the national lockdown brought into England in November this year. If you're in Tier 4 you must not travel – or stay away from home overnight. Places of worship were only allowed to open during the second lockdown for exceptional circumstances while in Tier 4 they are completely open with strict social distancing measures in place. Unfortunately the new #Covid_19 strain is up to 70% more transmissible! "But this is something which people are keeping on looking at, to try and get the optimal balance between isolating people too much and isolating them enough from the virus.". People are only allowed to meet one person from outside their household, in an outdoor public space. Cumbria has been put into Tier 4 lockdown along with large parts of the North West. Non-essential retail, indoor gyms and leisure facilities, and personal care services must close. ", He added: "We are entirely reconciled to doing what it takes to get the virus down and that may involve tougher measures in the weeks ahead.". 52 comments. The changes do not affect lower tiers, meaning people can continue to use gyms and leisure centres. The next review will take place on December 30. No outright ban was indicated, as per the first lockdown. Tier 4 lockdown could last for months as new Covid-19 strain ‘out of control’ Mutated coronavirus strain leads many European countries to ban travel from UK. “These areas will enter a new tier 4, which will be broadly equivalent to the national restrictions which were in place in England in November.”. In a hammer blow to the high street, the return to lockdown-style closures affects fashion and department stores, toy, gadget and electrical shops. There are new rules for funerals and weddings in Tier 4, with the latter only allowed under exceptional circumstances. All non-essential shops in Tier 4 areas have been forced to close until restrictions are lowered. Under the Government’s "Covid Winter Plan", civil partnerships and wedding ceremonies can go ahead with up to 15 guests and under social distancing requirements. 20 December 2020. Boris Johnson has cancelled Christmas for millions of people across England today with London and eastern and south-east England hit particularly hard. In Tier 1, rule of six applies indoors. He added he would not speculate on what those measures would be, but there were a range of options to consider. Please review our, You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. Outdoor sports courts, outdoor gyms, golf courses, outdoor swimming pools, archery/driving/shooting ranges, riding centres and playgrounds can remain open for individual exercise, and for people to use with others within your household, support bubble, or with one person from another household. Mr Williamson stated to the Commons that: "We must always act swiftly when circumstances change. When will Tier 4 lockdown start? "And we therefore changed the model of shielding since the first wave, and that includes people being able to get out more in many situations, and also areas around work. In Tier 3, restaurants, pubs, bars, licensed clubs, soft play areas, betting shops, adult gaming centres, bingo halls and casinos - among other leisure businesses - are already closed. The committee's assessments indicate the new variant could increase the reproduction rate (R) of the virus by as much as 0.93. 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