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Level 4 / extremely high
What has changed?
Those at the highest level of restrictions may feel a sense of déjà vu as these areas again plunge into strict restrictions similar to those first experienced at the close of November.
Residents in these areas must now stay home, with limited exceptions.
Non-essential retail stores, restaurants, personal care, leisure facilities, and indoor gyms should close.
People should work from home when they can, but can travel to work if this is not possible. This applies, for example, to the construction and manufacturing sectors.
The government has said that local and regional travel is not recommended.
Those in Level 4 areas will not be able to travel abroad, with limited exceptions, such as for work reasons.
Unlike the national restrictions of March and November, community worship can continue to take place in Level 4 areas.
What stays the same?
- Pubs, bars and restaurants will only be able to serve take-out services, and hotels will have to close their doors until the level in the local area returns to Level 2.
- Essential stores are allowed to remain open, as are schools, universities, and workplaces.
- Homes at the highest levels still cannot mix indoor homes.
- People should try to avoid traveling outside of the ‘very high’ area they are in, or entering a ‘very high’ area, other than for things like work, education, access to youth services, to fulfill responsibilities of care or if they are in transit
- Organized indoor sports, physical activity, and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. (There are exceptions for indoor sports for the disabled, sports for educational purposes, and supervised sports and physical activity for under 18s)
When will we see the end of the level system?
Despite a rebellion by dozens of Tory MPs in the House of Commons who voted on levels and corporate reaction, Matt Hancock said the restrictions were here to stay for “the next few months.”
Johnson also told MPs in the Commons vote on Dec. 1 that the levels would be decided on a more “granular” basis after the mid-December review, raising hope among advocates.
With the news that a vaccine was approved in England, Hancock encouraged people to “keep their nerves” and play by the rules.
However, the Secretary of Health has stated that the new Level 4 restrictions could be in effect for a couple of months until the vaccine implementation is complete.
Could there be a third blockade this year?
Johnson did not rule out the possibility of a third lockdown on Dec. 18, saying infection rates have risen “a lot” in recent weeks. The issue was not addressed in the tier revision announcement on December 30.
However, Education Secretary Gavin Williams insisted on January 1 that he was “sure” a new national lockdown would not be introduced, saying “the tiered structure is the right place.”
On the night of December 29, Johnson and the Covid-19 operations committee discussed tougher restrictions after 53,135 cases were recorded that day, a daily record of Covid-19 infections in the UK. Another 414 people have also died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus.
A Whitehall source stated on December 28 that Level 5 restrictions could be introduced following the increase in cases in all regions of the country; however, this was not discussed during the December 30 announcement.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak extended the licensing plan until the end of April, which some interpreted as an indication that even stricter restrictions will be applied this year.
Professor John Edmunds, a member of Sage’s scientific advisory panel, said: “I think we are going to have to look at these measures and maybe reinforce them, we really will.”
Schools Minister Nick Gibb and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove have said another national shutdown cannot be ruled out.
Will things change now that we have two vaccines?
On December 2, the same day the UK approved the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, Boris Johnson ruled on the strict three-tier system. He acknowledged that the restrictions are “tough” but nonetheless essential to “keep the virus under control.”
The prime minister expects certain areas to be moved before Easter. However, he emphasized that the tier system will continue to be necessary along with the vaccine. He shared: “For the moment, you have to assume that ranking will be a very, very important part of our campaign against coronavirus.”
Johnson also said we still have “a few months before all of the most vulnerable are protected,” so we must be cautious and not “get carried away by optimism.”
He emphasized that the government’s plan is based on the continuous sacrifice of the public “for those we love.”
Ugur Sahin, CEO of BioNTech, said on December 22 that “we do not know at the moment if our vaccine is also capable of providing protection against this new variant”, but because the proteins of the variant are 99% Like Than the predominant strains, BioNTech has “scientific confidence” in the vaccine.
On the same day that the government announced a new daily record for coronavirus infections, Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, who advises Sage, warned that one million Covid-19 vaccines a week would not be enough to control the pandemic.
He revealed: “We will not be free of this pandemic by February; this is now an endemic human infection.”
If we can reach the goal of one million [vaccinated] one week, frankly, I don’t think that’s enough to speed that up if we wanted to cover the country. “
But the Oxford vaccine was approved by the MHRA on December 30 and the vaccine launch is expected to begin on January 4.
The Government is aiming for two million people to receive their first dose of the Oxford vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine within fifteen days as part of a significant increase in the inoculation program.
Additionally, mass vaccination centers in sports arenas and conference venues are set to launch in the second week of January.
The NHS has recruited an army of more than 10,000 doctors and volunteers to help administer the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, once it is approved.
Although having two effective vaccines that have been approved is good news, there is still the possibility of another lockdown if the rapid increase in cases continues.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sky News: “It’s going to be a tough few weeks ahead.
“We can see the pressures right now on the NHS and it is absolutely critical that people follow the rules and do everything they can to stop the spread, particularly of the newer variant of this virus that spreads much faster.
“But we also know that there is a route out of this. The vaccine provides that route. We all have to keep our nerves in the weeks ahead.”
Read more: How long will it take for life to return to normal after the launch of the Covid vaccine?
Will there be a level 5?
A Whitehall source indicated the possibility of parts of the UK entering a new Tier 5 in the future. However, this was not introduced during the December 30 announcement.
As the NHS struggles under pressure from the coronavirus and new variants of Covid-19 continue to spread, millions could be under a more stringent Level 5 later this year.
Current Covid-19 Level 4 rules don’t appear to be working, according to a Whitehall source.
Government scientific advisers reportedly urged Mr. Johnson to tighten the stricter restrictions, which could lead to the formation of a new tier.
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