Herefordshire & Worcestershire has been placed in the stricter tier two of the government’s coronavirus restrictions.
The decision means the county will be facing tougher rules than before the second national lockdown which ends on December 2.
Tier two rules ban households from mixing indoors and the rule of six applies to people meeting outside.
This means you cannot meet up with people you do not live with or people who are not in your support bubble at pubs and restaurants.
Pubs and restaurants can close at 11pm but can only serve alcohol with a “substantial” meal.
Sports fans will be allowed to return to stadiums in limited numbers and theatres can also reopen but with restrictions on the amount of people who can attend.
Decisions on tiers were based on Public Health recommendations based on case detection rate in all ages but particularly in the over-60s; how quickly rates are rising or falling, the number of positive cases and current and projected pressure on the NHS locally.
Details of the new tiers were published on a government website that allows people to look up restrictions in their postcode, and in a separate full list of areas.
The government says the system will be regularly reviewed and the county’s tier level could change before Christmas.
The first review is set to take place on December 16.
The key differences in rules:
TIER 1
• You must follow the rule of six if you are meeting indoors or outdoors
• Pubs and restaurants will close at 11pm
• Minimise travel and work from home when possible
• Spectators allowed at sports events and live performances in limited numbers
TIER 2
• No household mixing indoors
• Rule of six applies outdoors
• Pubs and restaurants will close at 11pm but last orders will be 10pm
• Alcohol can only be served with a “substantial” meal
• Spectators allowed at sports events and live performances in limited numbers
TIER 3
• No household mixing indoors or outdoors
• Rule of six applies in outdoor spaces such as parks
• Pubs and restaurants will close except for takeaway and delivery
• Indoor entertainment venues will close
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said even those in the highest level of restrictions in England – tier three – would see a “tangible change” compared to the current lockdown.
The system will be regularly reviewed and an area’s tier level may change before Christmas – the first review is scheduled for 16 December.
Sharon Smith, CEO of the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce commented:
“The news that Herefordshire and Worcestershire will be placed into tier 2 after England exits the national lockdown on 2 December will come as a disappointment to many businesses.
With no household mixing in any indoor setting, this puts many hospitality businesses at a further disadvantage which will see a dip in trade when allowed to reopen.
The guidance given to business in the coming weeks on what exactly they can and cannot do must be delivered in a clear and timely manner by government to allow businesses time to prepare and to ensure they are abiding by government advice correctly.
We hope that the hard work of businesses around the region will lead to an improved picture in a couple of weeks’ time where the placement of the two counties will be reviewed.”
Commenting on the new tiered Coronavirus restrictions that will come into effect after the lockdown ends in England on December 2, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:
“Ongoing restrictions in England will continue to have a devastating impact on businesses across the country.
“To weather a difficult winter ahead, greater support will be needed for the hardest-hit firms, including those in town and city centres that will miss out on trade as employees continue to work from home.
“Chambers have been clear that businesses need to see and understand the evidence behind these decisions. While the Government has today added some clarity about the rationale for which restrictions apply where, they must waste no time in producing a full impact assessment and engage with businesses on how to mitigate the ongoing economic effect.
“A review of tiers on December 16 will provide hope for a way out of the strongest restrictions, but the process by which areas can move into new tiers should be transparent and include clear triggers and enough time to allow businesses to plan accordingly.
“There is no substitute for a fully functioning economy. Broad-based mass testing still holds the key to getting employees back into offices, suppliers and customers into shops and international travel and trade back up and running. Chambers continue to urge the government to redouble their efforts to improve its Test, Trace and Isolate system.”
To review the full guidance for all tiers, click here
Useful Links
- To find out what tier your area is in, click here
- To find out what you can and can’t do in each tier, click here
- To find out what financial support your business can access, click here
- For the latest coronavirus business support, visit our Hub here.
- For weekly updates, support and resources just for businesses, sign up to our Coronavirus Business Support Newsletter here.
- Check how many cases there are in your area here.