Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire spared Tier 4 restrictions for now

THE vast majority of England is now subjected to strict Tier 4 restrictions.

However, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire have escaped the top tier and will remain where they are, in Tier 3.

An additional 20 million people moved to the tightest restrictions at 12.01am this morning, making a total of 44 million in Tier 4, or 78 per cent of the population of England.

Tier 4 rules mean non-essential retail, gyms and hair and beauty salons must close.

Areas facing Tier 4 include the rest of Somerset, Swindon, and Gloucestershire. Bath and North East Somerset has been stepped up from Tier 2 to Tier 3.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the “difficult” measures were necessary as the mutant variant of Covid-19 continues to spread rapidly throughout the country. After the anmnouncement, nany people took to social media to express their surprise that Bristol is still in Tier 3.

One Twitter user wrote: “Fantastic @MattHancock Stick the towns/ cities around Bristol and Bath into Tier 4 ready for everyone to start flocking to Tier 3 Cabot Circus and The Mall Cribbs Causeway for January Sale shopping.”

Another tweeted: “@MattHancock talking about how fast cases in Gloucestershire are rising while South Glos and Bristol remain Tier 3 is frankly baffling.”

One woman commented: “I’m not disagreeing that areas should be tier 4 but I don’t get why Bristol, South Glos and North Somerset are tier 3 not 4. My brother was taking me to hospital today and there was people shopping in Bristol city centre like it’s a normal day.”

The next tier review is expected to be in two weeks.