Boris Johnson sets out new 3-tier lockdown and rules for pubs, restaurants, shops, gyms and hair cuts
The Prime Minister has announced a series of changes to coronavirus restrictions today, which will come into force when the national lockdown ends on December 2
Lizzy Buchan
Jon MacphersonChief Reporter
England will face tiered coronavirus restrictions until the end of March, Boris Johnson has confirmed, despite the latest successful vaccine trials and rapid tests presenting a "route out of the pandemic".
As the month-long lockdown measures come to an end on December 2, more parts of England are expected to be placed into higher tiers than they were before the national restrictions were imposed.
The Prime Minister said the new tiers will come into force at 00.01 next Wednesday and would be tougher than their predecessors first introduced in October.
It comes after Government scientific advisers said the previous regime did not do enough to tackle the virus.
Lancashire, Cumbria and other parts of the country are expected to find out what tier they will be placed in on Thursday (November 26).
Appearing via video link from coronavirus self-isolation in Downing Street, Mr Johnson published the 56-page Covid Winter Plan and said the "scientific cavalry" was on its way and by Spring, scientific advances will have made the concept of lockdown "redundant".
He said: "We know in our hearts that next year we will succeed.
"By the spring these advances should reduce the need for the restrictions we have endured in 2020 and make the whole concept of a Covid lockdown redundant."
Under the new rules, non-essential retail, gyms, leisure, beauty salons and places of worship will reopen across all the tiers.
Weddings and team sports will also be allowed to resume, with spectator sports permitted in Tier 1 and 2 areas with capacity limits and social distancing.
Pubs will once again be allowed to stay open until 11pm, it was confirmed today - but punters must still order their last drink by 10pm.
Gyms, hairdressers and beauty salons will reopen across all tier levels
Mr Johnson added: "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."
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Fans will be allowed to watch matches in Tier 1 areas as long as grounds have fewer than 4,000 spectators or 50% occupancy - whichever is smaller.
In Tier 2, the rule will be no more than 2,000 spectators or 50% occupancy.
Spectator sports cannot take place in Tier 3 areas.
The blanket stay at home order will come to an end when the new tiers begin.
Rules banning you from seeing more than one other person outdoors will be scrapped, with rule of six limits applying again outdoors.
The rule of six will still include children of any age.
Big changes to the rules include an end to the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants has been scrapped after huge criticism from chaotic scenes at closing times.
Last orders will now be called at 10pm but customers will have until 11pm to drink up to allow people to depart in a staggered way.
Pubs and bars face the biggest changes in the new rules.
In Tier 3 areas, pubs will have to close except for takeaway, click and collect, drive-through and delivery.
Hospitality venues in Tier 2 areas can serve alcohol alongside a substantial meal.
In Tier 1 areas, pubs can sell alcohol without food as long as they operate by table service only.
People in every area will be able to meet up to six people outside - rather than just one person -but there are specific rules on where you can meet depending on your tier.
There are tougher rules for Tier 3 areas, with no mixing of different households either indoors or outdoors, except in public outdoor spaces such as parks and beaches.
Tier 2 also bans mixing indoors, including in public spaces such as pubs and restaurants. But people can meet up to six people outdoors, which includes pub gardens.
In Tier 1 areas people must obey the rule of six indoors and outdoors. These limits exclude families that are larger than six people, or support bubble.
The tiering classification for each area will be formally reviewed every 14 days.
The legislation for the tiered system will expire at the end of March, by which point ministers hope there will have been significant advances in public vaccination.
On Christmas, Mr Johnson admitted there could not be a return to normality.
What's changed in the Tier rules since last time?
The tiers themselves have been made stricter since October. And more areas than before will be placed in the higher tiers.
This is because SAGE concluded the previous tier system didn't work well enough to bring down virus rates.
Rules that have changed since October include:
More pubs must shut. Beforehand, hospitality venues could stay open in Tier 3 if they could operate as a restaurant. But now that restriction will apply to Tier 2; and all hospitality venues in Tier 3 must shut completely. This includes hotels.
10pm curfew axed. Pubs and restaurants that remain open will now have to call last orders at 10pm but won't have to shut completely at 10pm - drinkers will have until 11pm to leave.
Support bubbles expanded. There's now a new exemption which allows a multi-adult household to form a support bubble no matter what, if that household has a child under one, or a child with care needs under five.
Spectator sport, gigs, conferences and theatre shows can go ahead in Tiers 1 and 2. They will have severely reduced capacity.
Cinemas, bowling, bingo and soft play must close in all Tier 3 areas. This also includes any other 'indoor entertainment' venues.
Tier 3 rules will be the same everywhere in Tier 3. No more a-la-carte options on top.
Councils in Tier 3 will have no right to negotiate or appeal. However they will have the right to negotiate the details of mass testing and similar measures.
People in all tiers told to work from home and not travel unless necessary. This is slightly stricter than what existed before.
Tier 3 areas can get mass testing. The government hopes to expand rapid tests which covered everyone in Liverpool to other Tier 3 areas.
What about Christmas?
The whole of the UK will be given a brief break from lockdown rules over Christmas.
That means the above tier system will be suspended in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will suspend their rules too.
No10 hopes to announce that system on Tuesday this week, but it still isn't agreed between the four nations.
It was thought up to three households would be able to mix indoors for up to five days - perhaps December 22-27.
Restrictions on church services are also due to be lifted, allowing Christmas Day services to be held, the Telegraph reported.
He said: "We all want some kind of Christmas, we need it, we certainly feel we deserve it. But what we don't want is to throw caution to the winds and allow the virus to flare up again, forcing us all back into lockdown in January.
"So to allow families to come together, while minimising the risk, we're working with the devolved administrations on a special time-limited Christmas dispensation, embracing the whole of the United Kingdom."
Plans are reportedly under way to allow a number of households to bubble together for Christmas but the full proposals are expected later this week.
Tier 1 rules explained
Social contact: All social gatherings indoors and outdoors are governed by the 'rule of six'. That means up to six people from up to six households can gather, but the six-person limit includes children and babies. You are still required to obey rules on wearing masks and social distancing.
Bubbles: Two households can form a 'support bubble' if one of them only has one adult; or a 'childcare bubble' if one of them has a child under 13. There's also now a new exemption which allows a multi-adult household to form a support bubble no matter what, if that household has a child under one, or a child with care needs under five. If you're in a bubble, you can behave as though you're all in one household.
Pubs and restaurants: Hospitality venues must operate table service only and call last orders at 10pm, though people only have to leave at 11pm.
Schools, universities and childcare: Remain open in all circumstances, but universities must reflect wider restrictions in the area.
Travel and holidays: You should avoid travel where possible, but holidays are allowed.
Work: The advice is to work from home if you can.
Weddings and funerals: 15 guests can attend marriage ceremonies and receptions. Funerals can have up to 30 mourners, with only 15 people allowed at the wake.
Shops: All retail - including non-essential shops - can stay open.
Gyms, pools, hairdressers, and 'personal care' (e.g. nail salons): These can stay open.
Cinemas, bingo, bowling, soft play and other indoor entertainment: These can stay open.
Sports: Organised indoor sport and exercise classes can continue to take place, provided rule of six is observed.
Spectator sports: Allowed outdoors with a maximum crowd size of either 50% occupancy of the stadium or 4,000 spectators, whichever is smaller. Allowed indoors with 1,000 spectators or 50% occupancy, whichever is smaller.
Mass events, theatres and conferences: Allowed indoors with 1,000 spectators or 50% occupancy, whichever is smaller.
Religious services: Can go ahead as long as the sub-group you're in the venue with is consistent with social gathering rules for your tier.
Driving lessons and tests: Can go ahead.
Social contact: You cannot meet anyone socially indoors, unless they are from your household or support bubble . This applies at home or in a public setting. Rule of six limits apply outdoors.
Pubs and restaurants: Hospitality venues must shut unless they serve food, and you can only buy alcohol if you are also consuming a "substantial meal". They must call last orders at 10pm, though people only have to leave at 11pm.
Schools, universities and childcare: Remain open in all circumstances, but universities can do more online learning.
Social contact: You cannot meet anyone socially, unless they are from your household or support bubble, either indoors or in outdoor spaces like private gardens, beer gardens, hospitality or ticketed venues.. However, rule of six limits still apply in outdoor open spaces, such as a park, forest, or beach.
Pubs and restaurants: Hospitality venues must shut and can only remain open as "click and collect" or takeaway services. This includes hotels.
Schools, universities and childcare: These remain open in all circumstances, but universities can do more online learning.
Travel and holidays: You should limit any journeys made outside your local Tier 3 area - except for work and school run journeys. This is guidance, rather than the law. People are advised against overnight stays outside the area or having visitors to stay from elsewhere. This means no holidays.
Weddings and funerals: 15 guests can attend marriage ceremonies but receptions are banned. Funerals can have up to 30 mourners, with only 15 people allowed at the wake.
Cinemas, bingo, bowling, soft play and other indoor entertainment: These must shut in Tier 3
Spectator sports: Not allowed in Tier 3, indoors or outdoors.
Mass events, theatres and conferences: Not allowed.