Breakdown of what rules are in different tiers
TIER 1
Tier 1 is for the least-hit areas. The rules include:
Rule of six: Social gatherings of more than six people outdoors or indoors are illegal.
10pm curfew: Pubs and restaurants can only operate with table service and must shut by 10pm.
Work from home if you can: People who can do their job from home are expected to do so.
Social distancing: Stay 2m apart from people not in your household or bubble, or 1m with mitigations
TIER 2
Tier 2 is for higher-risk areas, and reflect current local lockdown rules that already apply to more than 10 million people in England. This includes:
Everything in Tier 1, plus: Indoor gatherings banned: Social gatherings are not allowed indoors between anyone who doesn’t live together (other than bubbles and exemptions).
Public transport cut: Only use it for essential reasons.
TIER 3
Tier 3 is for the highest-risk areas, which at the moment only includes Liverpool.
The rules include everything in Tiers 1 and 2, plus:
Pubs and restaurants shut: Pubs in these areas to be closed by law with support for businesses and furlough-style compensation for staff.
Restaurants are able to remain open until 10pm and can serve alcohol so long as someone is having a substantial meal.
Non-essential travel restricted: People are advised against travelling outside an affected area and are only allowed to travel for work, education or health and must return by the end of the day.
Overnight stays in other areas are not allowed.
However, these are guidelines rather than enforced in law
No mixing outdoors: People who don’t live together are banned from mixing with other households in gardens, but can in outdoor places in line with the rule of six.
However, schools and workplaces stay open.
Ministers have made clear schools will be the last thing to shut.