BORIS Johnson is to unveil a tough new tier system to keep Covid under control tomorrow – and within days, Brits living across the country will know what restrictions they’ll be facing.
The Prime Minister will end the national lockdown, as promised, on December 2 – but it’ll be replaced with strict new measures described by a source as “tiers on steroids”.
During his speech, which will be given online as the PM is self-isolating, he will set out details of a new winter plan to tackle Covid.
The proposals include a revised three-tier structure, which will be in place until the spring while scientists continue work on approving vaccines.
The new system will mean the toughest restrictions could wear on for regions which had been in the highest levels before the new lockdown began in November.
And more areas could shift into strict new measures, with the final decision being made on Thursday.
Previously, areas including Liverpool, Greater Manchester, Warrington in Cheshire and parts of North Yorkshire were in the third tier.
But rates of infection are declining in many of the former worst-hit areas – and new hotspots include Hull, which currently has the highest rates of coronavirus in England.
In the seven days to November 16, 1,817 new cases were recorded – the equivalent of 699.4 cases per 100,000 people.
Swale in Kent has the second highest rate, up sharply from 316.5 to 654.3, with 982 new cases.
Thanet, also in Kent, has made the top 10 after a spike in new cases.
Restrictions in the former Tier 3 included a ban on overnight stays outside the home, as well as the closure of pubs and bars.
Restaurants and pubs which could provide a ‘substantial meal’ were allowed to remain open.
Local politicians were tasked with deciding whether businesses like beauty salons and gyms should remain open.
Under the current lockdown, people in England have been told they can only travel for essential reasons, while every non-essential business has been shut down.
But the PM will tomorrow say that – no matter what tier a region is in after December 2 – shops can remain open.
Beauty salons, gyms and hairdressers are also expected to open for a “morale boost”.
Meanwhile, the much-criticised 10pm curfew will also be binned, it’s reported.
The PM intends to extend opening hours until 11pm – and while last orders will still be called at 10pm, punters will get another hour to finish drinks and meals.
However, Mr Johnson is also set to enforce harsher controls on households mixing indoors – and it’s claimed Brits could be forced to keep away from families and friends until Easter.
During the address, he will also give further details about what Brits can expect for their festive celebrations after months of speculation.
It’s reported that there’ll be a four-nation ‘truce’, which will see all families across the UK allowed the same number of days to celebrate with loved ones.
This morning, Chancellor Rishi Sunak addressed claims that for every day restrictions are relaxed over Christmas, five days of tighter measures could be needed.
He said: “I think it’s difficult to be so precise and granular about the impact of any individual measure that we might take.
“That’s why I said it’s not going to be a normal Christmas this year.
“I think the good news is we’re going to be exiting national restrictions, which is something that I think people at the beginning of this were doubtful of and we said that was very much what we wanted to deliver, and we are going to deliver that.”
