Health secretary Matt Hancock has announced the latest coronavirus tiers
- Credit: PA
Ipswich has avoided being placed under Tier 3 restrictions, health secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed.
Speaking to MPs this morning, the West Suffolk MP confirmed the county town is not included in a list of areas in the East of England entering Tier 3, and as such will remain under the high alert or Tier 2 restrictions.
The whole of Suffolk will remain in the same tier.
Fears had been raised by local politicians that the town could enter the highest restrictions – including by Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dr Dan Poulter, who has spent much of the pandemic working on the frontline.
Covid-19 THE NEW Forest is to remain in Covid Tier 2 while some areas of Hampshire will be moved into Tier 3. The local authorities in Hampshire which will remain in Tier 2 (High) are New Forest District Council, Test Valley Borough Council, Winchester City Council, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, East Hampshire District Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Fareham Borough Council, Hart District Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Winchester City Council. However, from Saturday, December 19 Havant Borough and Gosport Borough will move into COVID Tier 3 (Very High) restrictions. Hampshire County Council is urging residents to continue adhering to Covid-19 rules.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has announced the latest coronavirus tiers
- Credit: PA
Ipswich has avoided being placed under Tier 3 restrictions, health secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed.
Speaking to MPs this morning, the West Suffolk MP confirmed the county town is not included in a list of areas in the East of England entering Tier 3, and as such will remain under the high alert or Tier 2 restrictions.
The whole of Suffolk will remain in the same tier.
Fears had been raised by local politicians that the town could enter the highest restrictions – including by Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dr Dan Poulter, who has spent much of the pandemic working on the frontline.
A social distancing reminder in Barnstaple. Picture: Matt Smart
- Credit: Matt Smart
North Devon and Torridge will be faced with further restrictions once the national lockdown ends on December 2.
Areas across England will be placed into one of three tiers when the lockdown ends, but the system has been toughened.
North Devon Council and Torridge District Council areas will be placed in tier two along with the rest of the county – a level higher than before the national lockdown.
The Government outlines tier two areas as ones with a higher or rapidly rising level of infections.
At tier two, households are not allowed to mix indoors, with a maximum of six people permitted outdoors.
A HAMPSHIRE leader has warned residents ahead of a relaxation of the Covid-19 restrictions over Christmas. Cllr Keith Mans, leader of Hampshire County Council, said residents need to be careful and think about the impact of meeting people indoors. The news comes as Covid restrictions are going to be eased next week to allow three households to meet indoors between December 23 and 27. But Cllr Mans said that does not mean people have to change what they are doing. Talking during the meeting of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board yesterday he said: In my view that should only happen if you really want it to happen. That does not mean you have to change what you are doing and you need to bear in mind that mixing different generations is an important issue that you need to be careful of particularly indoors.