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New lockdown rules for the UK are expected to be released tomorrow, including a three-tier system that classifies parts of the country by risk.
The system will divide the different regions of England into ‘medium’, ‘high’ or ‘very high’ local Covid alert areas, with each level determining the coronavirus restrictions that area will have to follow. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair a COBRA committee meeting on the issue tomorrow “to determine the final interventions”, before announcing them to Parliament.
Johnson will also hold a press conference in Downing Street with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Medical Director Professor Chris Whitty on Monday.
1. Three-level system
Areas at Level 1 will see measures that reflect England’s current restrictions: social distancing measures, the six-person rule, and a 10pm curfew in bars.
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Tier 2 measures are expected to be significantly more stringent than Tier 1. They are likely to include the above, but will also prohibit household mixing, reduce funerals to 15 people, and only allow nursing home visits in exceptional circumstances .
The most severe restrictions will be imposed on those at Tier 3, where some parts of the UK may face measures similar to national lockdown rules in an attempt to curb the increase in cases across the UK.
2. Closing of pubs and bars
Areas on Level 3 could see the forced closure of pubs and bars once again. Restaurants could be allowed to stay open, but would still have to obey the 10pm curfew currently imposed on all English hospitality venues.
3. Reduced contact
Those residing in the worst affected areas are expected to be asked not to leave their local area, in a move that would affect millions of Britons.
Under Level 3 restrictions, these people will be prohibited from gathering with friends or relatives from other households, and the rule will apply to both indoor and outdoor settings.
4. There are no hairdressers
Even though they only reopened three months ago, hair salons could be forced to close in areas experiencing high infection rates, the Telegraph reports.
It’s unclear whether or not this rule applies to hairdressers, who were allowed to reopen earlier than other beauty services.
5. Energy test and trace for local authorities
Local authorities are expected to have more autonomy over the test and trace systems in their areas, and the government will be angered by the involvement of local authorities in decision-making.
Robert Jenrick, Secretary for Communities, told Sky News on Sunday: ‘We are trying to work very closely with the mayors, with the council leaders, with the CEOs to design these measures with them. That takes time. We want to have good communication between the national and local government before announcing how we are going to carry this out.
“The people who know their local authorities will surely be better than Whitehall’s national contact centers.”
6. Sunak salary plans
Foreign Minister Rishi Sunak’s new leave plan, in which the government will pay two-thirds of the salaries of those who work for companies forced to close, will be confirmed by the prime minister tomorrow.
The chancellor’s plan also includes awarding monthly grants of £ 3,000 to companies that have been forced to close. Previously closed businesses could only claim a maximum of £ 1,500 every three weeks. The exact details were still being negotiated late tonight, according to local leaders in Liverpool, which is expected to be under Tier 3 restrictions.
The British Medical Association has published its own list of recommendations, including only allowing six groups of six from two households to meet together and making face covering mandatory in offices and outdoors.
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