Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now revealed his Covid winter plans for when England exits its second national lockdown on December 2nd.
The Prime Minister announced the post-lockdown plans for the nation during an address at the House of Commons today (November 23) via video call.
Mr Johnson confirmed England will return to a three-tier system after December 2nd, where regions of the country will be labelled as ‘medium’ (1), ‘high’ (2) or ‘very high’ (3) risk, with each level having different restrictions. The PM said people will be able to leave their house for “any purpose”, and can meet in groups but have to obey the ‘rule of six’
He also said the tiers will be toughened after lockdown.
In tier 1, people will be urged to work from home where possible. In tier 2, bars and restaurants will only be able to sell alcohol if served with a meal. Also in tiers 1 and 2, bars and restaurants will be able to open until 11pm, with last call for orders being at 10pm.
In tier 3, indoor entertainment, hotels and all forms of hospitality will close except for takeaways. Mr Johnson also said we will see a “six-week surge of testing” in tier 3 areas.
In addition to allowing the opening of non-essential shops, gyms, leisure facilities and hairdressers next Wednesday (December 2), the PM also said a limited number of fans will be able to return to sports stadium in tiers 1 and 2.
While Boris Johnson didn’t confirm plans for restrictions over Christmas, he did say the government are currently working with working the “devolved administrations on a special time-limited Christmas dispensation”.
“I can’t say that Christmas will be normal this year,” 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.”
Watch Boris Johnson’s address in full below.