South Yorkshire will move under under the strictest coronavirus measures from Saturday, the mayor of Sheffield city region Dan Jarvis has announced.
It follows Greater Manchester, where residents will be under Tier 3 restrictions from Friday , and Liverpool City Region and Lancashire, which are already under the highest alert level.
Under Tier 3 curbs, households must not mix indoors or in private gardens and pubs and bars which don’t serve meals will be closed. Specific restrictions to particular areas can also be put in place.
Boris Johnson imposed the tougher coronavirus restrictions on Greater Manchester on Tuesday after talks over a rescue package with mayor Andy Burnham failed .
Tier 3 measures are the most severe under the Government’s three-tier “traffic light system” designed to curb the spread of coronavirus.
What is the Government’s three tier system?
The government launched a three-tier system earlier this month with increasing restrictions depending on the designated alert level for the area.
Different local alert levels - either “medium”, “high” and “very high” - are assigned depending on infection rates.
What areas are under Tier 3?
Liverpool City Region and Lancashire are under Tier 3 restrictions, while Greater Manchester will be under the restrictions from Friday. South Yorkshire will enter the tier on Saturday.
Tier 3 includes areas of “very high” risk, where coronavirus transmission rates are of the greatest concern.
In these areas:
- Households are not allowed to mix either indoors or outdoors in private gardens.
- You can meet people in groups of six in parks or public gardens.
- Pubs and bars must close in the very high alert level areas unless they can operate as a restaurant.
- People living in Tier 3 areas are advised against overnight stays in other parts of the UK and should avoid travel where possible in and out of the area, unless it is for work, education or caring responsibilities.
- Some rules can be negotiated with Government, so stricter rules may be in place in some areas rather than others.
- The rules that can be negotiated include closing hospitality venues, leisure centres, gyms, casinos, public buildings, personal care services and performing arts venues, and whether alcohol can be sold in hospitality venues.
- Shops and places of worship can remain open, as can schools and colleges, while universities must reflect wider restrictions with the option to move to greater online provision.
- Up to 15 guests are allowed at weddings and 30 people can attend funerals, with 15 allowed at wakes, but wedding receptions are not permitted.
Which areas are under Tier 2?
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Essex, Elmbridge, Barrow-in-Furness, York, North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield and Erewash are also in the tier.
In these areas:
- Household mixing is banned indoors in Tier two while the rule of six continues to apply outdoors.
- People must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting unless they live with them or have formed a support bubble with them.
- Up to 15 guests will be allowed at weddings and up to 30 people allowed at funerals, with 15 allowed at receptions and wakes.
- Shops, gyms, all education settings, and places of worship remain open, with overnight stays permitted.
- Travel advice for those living in Tier 2 areas is to reduce the number of journeys they take where possible and avoid travel into very high Tier 3 areas.
Which areas are under Tier 1?
All areas that have not been placed in other tiers are in Tier 1.
They are areas classed as medium risk and are subject to the same national measures which currently apply across the whole country.
In these areas:
- These include the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants and a ban on most gatherings of more than six people.
- Up to 15 guests will be allowed at weddings and up to 30 people allowed at funerals, with 15 allowed at receptions and wakes.
- Shops, gyms, all education settings, and places of worship remain open, with overnight stays permitted and no travel restrictions within the area, although people are advised to avoid travel into Tier 3 areas where possible.
- The rule of six applies, where more than six people from different households cannot mix.
