The lockdown will end on December 2, but Boris Johnson reveals a new tier system that will last until spring

Britain’s lockdown will end next week on December 2, but a new, stricter tier system will last at least until spring, Boris Johnson said today.

The prime minister’s new rules will be significantly tougher than before in the bleak winter ahead for the country, but they won’t include a level 4.

⚠️ Read our live coronavirus blog for the latest news and updates

9

9

9

As part of the Prime Minister’s Covid Winter Plan, he said there WILL be a break during the holiday period, but that families “will need to make a careful judgment” about visiting older relatives as the virus “does not know” that it is Christmas.

Your goal is to try and get the R rate below one and keep it there with the new set of draconian rules, which will likely be opposed by a number of backbenchers.

The prime minister admitted that “more regions will fall, at least temporarily, to higher levels than before,” meaning that more Britons are facing not being able to see friends and family inside until Easter.

The rules will be reviewed every 14 days to see if they are working and to see if they can be relaxed.

The prime minister will set which venue will enter what level on Thursday.

The new rules, to be released next week, include:

9

NO LEVEL 4

Fundamentally, the highest level of lockdown, Level 3, will have to have even stricter rules to reduce case numbers.

Earlier, Matt Hancock emphasized that previous closures, which put large swaths of northern England on a “very high” Covid alert level, were not enough to reduce cases.

He said, “We saw that the Tier 3 rules above could essentially get cases to be planned, not knock them down.”

But in a blow to hospitality businesses, pubs and restaurants have to remain closed on the top level, but click and collect is allowed and deliveries can continue.

LEVELS RAISED

Most of the country is expected to return to the stricter Tier 3 or high-risk Tier 2.

Areas that live below Tier 2 will have to follow the rules that were previously set at the highest Covid tier, meaning pubs will only be able to serve alcoholic beverages alongside a “substantial meal.”

And punters will only be able to dine inside with the people they live with.

Massive testing will be implemented at the upper levels of Covid alert in an attempt to try to reduce cases again.

LONDON CALLING

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said it was “too early to say” which places will enter which tiers.

The ministers will decide that later this week.

He told LBC today: “Based on the figures I have seen, which is a slowdown in the spread of the virus, it is slowing down in parts of London in a couple of boroughs.

“If we continue to make this progress, if Londoners continue to do the right thing, then what I suspect will happen, what I hope will happen is when the lockdown is lifted on December 2nd.^{North Dakota}, London would probably be on what’s called level two. “

9

9

9

The hated 10 p.m. curfew will eventually be abandoned by ministers and replaced by demands to take the last orders, and a final shutdown at 11 p.m., giving the British a chance to finish their drinks before being forced. to go out on the street.

Johnson summoned his cabinet for a rare Sunday meeting last night to pass reinforced new measures for England.

In a big push for retailers, all stores will be able to open in the crucial lead-up to Christmas, regardless of their local closing measures.

Gyms may also open across the country.

And hair salons will also be able to open their doors wide, as “personal care” will be allowed to return.

CHRISTMAS JOY

The new tougher levels come with good news for families, after all four nations signed a plan to allow people from across the UK to come together for Christmas.

It is understood that up to three households may meet for an indoor turkey dinner, subject to final agreement with the delegate nations.

There is also hope that these “festive bubbles” could go out together at Christmas meals, as long as they are not mixed with other households.

The ban on home mixing on Tiers 2 and 3 will likely be lifted for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day until the delayed Boxing Day bank holiday on December 28.

And at Level 1, the “Rule of Six” will be suspended to allow larger groups to celebrate.

Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today that it was “likely” that the household bubbles could coalesce, but said the possibility of uniting four households was not discussed.

He said there is an “obvious desire” to meet over Christmas, but stressed that it must be done “safely” to minimize risks.

TRY THEM ALL

Johnson told MPs that the rise in new Covid cases in England is “flattening out” after the nationwide lockdown measures.

But he warned: “We are not out of the woods yet.”

Hancock said this morning that Level 3 combined with the massive testing in Liverpool meant that new coronavirus cases began to fall “noticeably”.

9

9

EASTER VACATIONS

Hancock also spoke about the possibility of British lives beginning to return to normal at Easter after the Oxford AstraZenaca vaccine announced that it was “up to 90 percent effective.”

He said: “It’s subject to that regulatory approval and I really emphasize that because the drug regulator, it’s called the MHRA, it’s independent, it’s rigorous, it’s one of the best regulators in the world.

“They will be very, very careful to make sure they look at all the data to make sure it’s secure.

“Subject to that approval, we hope to begin vaccinating next month.”

Most of the jabs will begin rolling out from January to March, he said.

“And we hope that sometime after Easter things can go back to normal.”