The three-tier system has been in place since 2 December, in a bid to suppress coronavirus case numbers throughout the winter months.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Thursday a further change to Covid-19 tiers in parliament.
Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Peterborough, the whole of Hertfordshire, Surrey with the exception of Waverley, Hastings and Rother on the Kent border of East Sussex, and Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant in Hampshire will all move to tier 3 from 00.01 on Saturday 19 December.
Bristol and North Somerset will move from tier 3 to tier 2 and Herefordshire will move from tier 2 to tier 1.
Hancock confirmed that on Wednesday 16 December, there were 25,000 new coronavirus cases and 18,000 patients in hospital in the UK.
“As we enter the coldest months, we must be vigilant and keep this virus under control,” he said.
Greater London and parts of Essex and Kent are already in tier 3.
What does this mean for pubs and restaurants?
In the tier system – hospitality can reopen in tier one and two, but not in tier three where only deliveries and takeaways may continue.
Tier one: Table service only, rule of six on mingling indoors and outdoors and wearing face masks when not seated at your table. For example, being seated or visiting the bathroom.
Tier two: No household mixing indoors. Maximum of six people mixing outdoors and can only be served alcohol if alongside a “substantial meal”.
Tier three: Hospitality will remain closed (other than takeaway or delivery) until the region moves out of tier three.
The tiers will be reviewed by law every 14 days and will lapse in March, if no other system is put in place in the meantime.
Is there a new curfew?
In the previous tiered-system there was a 10pm curfew, which meant all hospitality not only couldn’t serve after 10pm but had to be empty of customers – people couldn’t, for example, loiter on the premises.
That has been reviewed. Mr Johnson said of the new system curfew: “From the 10pm closing time we’re going to change that so last orders [is] at 10 o’clock with closing at 11 in tiers one and two”.
This of course does not apply to tier three.
Is my area affected?
This week’s tier changes will affect Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Peterborough, the whole of Hertfordshire, Surrey with the exception of Waverley, Hastings and Rother on the Kent border of East Sussex, and Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant in Hampshire.
London, Kent and parts of Essex are already in tier 3.
To see if your area is affected visit gov.uk and enter your postcode.
