PM sets out tougher tiers to replace lockdown in England
ENGLAND will face tiered coronavirus restrictions until the end of March next year, despite the latest successful vaccine trials and rapid tests presenting a “route out of the pandemic”.
As the lockdown ends on December 2, more parts of England are expected to be placed into higher tiers than they were before the national restrictions were imposed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday that the new tiers would be tougher than their predecessors, after Government scientific advisers said the previous tier regime did not do enough to tackle the virus.
The announcement of the new measures came as the Oxford-AstraZeneca team announced its vaccine had proved 70% effective.
Appearing via video link from coronavirus self-isolation in Downing Street, Mr Johnson told MPs the threetiered approach had been beefed up. Under the new system:
In Tier 2, alcohol may only be served in hospitality settings as part of a substantial meal.
In Tier 3, pubs and restaurants will only be able to offer takeaway and delivery services, while indoor entertainment, hotels and other accommodation will close.
The 10pm curfew in pubs will be relaxed, with last orders taking place at that time and premises ordered to shut at 11pm.
Setting out other measures that will be eased as the lockdown lifts, Mr Johnson said: “From next Wednesday, people will be able to leave their home for any purpose and meet others in outdoor public spaces, subject to the rule of six; collective worship, weddings and outdoor sports can resume, and shops, personal care, gyms and the wider leisure sector can reopen. But without sensible precautions, we would risk the virus escalating into a winter or New Year surge.”
Details of which areas will be in which tiers will be set out on Thursday, Mr Johnson added.
“I’m sorry to say we expect that more regions will fall at least temporarily into higher levels than before,” he warned.
Concluding, the Prime Minister said: “Christmas cannot be normal”. But he added that the UK has “every reason to hope and believe” spring could see an easing of restrictions.
He told the Commons: “This will still be a hard winter. Christmas cannot be normal and there’s a long road to spring. But we have turned a corner and the escape route is in sight.
“We must hold out against the virus until testing and vaccines come to our rescue and reduce the need for restrictions, and everyone can help speed up the arrival of that moment by continuing to follow the rules, getting tested and self-isolating when instructed, remembering ‘hands, face, space’ and pulling together for one final push to the spring when we have every reason to hope and believe the achievements of our scientists will finally lift the shadow of this virus.”