Millions more people across the UK have been placed under tighter coronavirus restrictions from today.
Another six million in England have been placed in Tier 4, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have also imposed harsher measures on their citizens on Boxing Day.
The Tier 4 restrictions – effectively a regional lockdown – now also affect the following places in England:
- Sussex
- Oxfordshire
- Suffolk
- Norfolk
- Cambridgeshire
- Parts of Essex currently not in Tier 4
- Waverley in Surrey
- Hampshire (apart from the New Forest)
These places are also being moved into Tier 3:
- Bristol
- Gloucestershire
- Somerset
- Swindon
- Isle of Wight
- The New Forest
- Northamptonshire
- Cheshire
- Warrington
Meanwhile, Cornwall and Herefordshire are moving into Tier 2.
Under England’s toughest Tier 4 restrictions, people are told to stay at home and non-essential shops, bars and restaurants are closed.
People are not allowed to meet other households, except in a support bubble or in an outdoor public space with one other person.
A number of areas were already placed into Tier 4 ahead of Christmas, including London and swathes of the South East and East.
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Northern Ireland’s six-week lockdown also begins today.
All non-essential shops will be shut and hospitality will only be open for takeaway services.
The first week will be the strictest, when all sporting activity will be banned and essential shops will have to close at 8pm.
In a move similar to England’s Tier 4 restrictions, Wales will be moving back into Level 4 measures after easing them for Christmas Day.
The tighter restrictions were initially intended for 28 December but First Minister Mark Drakeford brought them forward last week.
This toughest level of restrictions means non-essential shops, gyms and beauty salons must close and bars and restaurants can only open for takeaways.
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Millions more enter Tier 4 from Boxing Day
People are being told to “stay home” and to only travel for “essential reasons”.
During the Level Four lockdown, people cannot mix with anyone they do not live with, except those they are in an exclusive support bubble with.
Mainland Scotland is also entering the toughest tier of restrictions today for at least three weeks.
The measures are very similar to those imposed by England and Wales, with non-essential retail and hospitality shut.
People will not be allowed to meet in each other’s houses, but six adults from two separate households can meet in a public place. Children under 12 do not count towards the total.