BBC News: Covid: What are the new tiers and lockdown rules in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Coronavirus restrictions around socialising, travel and hospitality vary around the UK. Covid restrictions are “highly likely” to be tightened in several areas of England – including London – later this week. Health Secretary Matt Hancock is due to announce in Parliament whether any area currently in tier two will be placed in the higher tier three. He is making a statement at 15:30 GMT on Monday. What are England’s lockdown rules? All areas have been placed in one of three tiers: medium, high and very high. About 99% of England is currently in tiers two and three. The placing of areas in each tier is reviewed every 14 days, with the first review due by 16 December. Tier three (very high) rules■ You can’t mix indoors, in private gardens or in most outdoor venues, except with your household or bubble■ You can meet in a group of up to six in other outdoor spaces, such as parks, beaches or countryside■ Shops, gyms and personal care services (such as hairdressing) can stay open■ Bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants must stay closed, except for delivery and takeaway■ Sports fans cannot attend events in stadiums■ Indoor entertainment venues – such as bowling alleys and cinemas – must stay closed■ People are advised not to travel to and from tier three areas■ You can’t mix indoors with anyone apart from members of your household or bubble■ You can meet in a group of up to six outside – including in a private garden, or a public place■ Shops, gyms and personal care services (such as hairdressing) can reopen■ Pubs and bars can only open if they serve substantial meals. Alcohol can be served with that meal■ Pubs and restaurants must shut at 23:00 GMT, with last orders at 22:00 ■ Sports events in stadiums can be attended by up to 2,000 spectators, or 50% capacity (whichever is smaller)■ Collective worship, weddings and outdoor sports can resume (with restrictions)■ Non-essential foreign travel allowed, subject to quarantine rules■ People are advised not to travel to and from tier three areas Tier one (medium) rules Areas in the lowest tier will have some restrictions relaxed:■ The rule of six will apply indoors and outdoors■ Spectator sports can resume with a crowd of 50% of capacity, or 4,000 spectators, whichever is smaller■ Only the Isle of Wight, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are currently in tier one There are exceptions in all tiers for childcare and support bubbles. More details are here. How were the tiers decided? Under the current tier restrictions, about 55 million people are banned from mixing with other households indoors. The decision is based on:■ Total number of Covid cases in an area■ The number of cases in the over-60s■ The rate at which cases are rising or falling■ The proportion of test results coming back positive■ Pressure on the NHS How does Scotland’s five-tier system work? Each area of Scotland has been placed in one of five levels. Eleven areas which were recently put into level four – North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian – have been downgraded to level three, meaning pubs, restaurants and shops can reopen from 11 December. Falkirk, Angus and Inverclyde have been downgraded from level three to level two, while Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders go down from level two to level one. Level zero (nearly normal) rules■ Indoor meetings allowed with up to eight people from three households■ Up to 15 people from five households can meet outdoors ■ No areas have been placed in the lowest tier. Level one (medium) rules Additional restrictions apply:■ In Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, up to six people from two households can meet inside their homes. This is not allowed in Highlands or Moray. ■ People in all areas can meet up to seven other people outdoors, from a maximum of three households Level two (high) rules Additional restrictions apply:■ No gatherings inside homes■ Up to six people from two households can meet outdoors or at a pub or restaurant■ Most hospitality venues can open■ Alcohol can be served indoors with a meal until 20:00 and outdoors until 22:30■ Most leisure premises are closed except gyms, cinemas, bingo halls and amusement arcades Level three (very high) rules Additional restrictions apply:■ Pubs and restaurants can open until 18:00, but alcohol cannot be served■ Leisure and entertainment venues are closed■ Non-essential travel in or out of the area not allowed■ Gyms uses restricted to individuals and not groups Level four (lockdown) rules Additional restrictions apply:■ Non-essential shops, pubs and restaurants, and gyms close■ Libraries and hairdressers also close Schools stay open in all levels, and here must also be no non-essential travel between Scotland the rest of the UK. ■ More detail on Scotland’s restrictions What are Northern Ireland’s new rules? Northern Ireland has now ended its circuit-breaker lockdown and adopted the following rules: ■ Households still cannot mix indoors in private homes, except for exemptions including bubbles and childcare ■ No more than six people from two households can gather in a private garden (children under 12 are exempt)■ A maximum of 15 people can gather outside, unless for an organised, risk-assessed event■ Hotels, libraries, visitor attractions and non-essential shops can re-open. Gyms can open for individual or one-to-one training.■ Restaurants, cafes, and pubs serve food can re-open and must close by 23:00 ■ Religious buildings can re-open and the 25-person limit on weddings and funerals is lifted, with maximum capacity based on building size■ Up to 500 spectators can attend sporting events Read Northern Ireland’s official guidance. What are the rules in Wales?■ Two households can form a bubble and meet in their own homes■ Up to 15 people can meet for organised activities indoors, rising to 30 outdoors■ Cinemas, bowling alleys, bingo halls, museums and galleries must shut■ Travel throughout Wales is permitted, and non-essential travel is allowed between Wales and tier one and two areas in England, and level one and two areas in Scotland■ Restaurants and cafes cannot serve alcohol and must close at 18:00 GMT■ Takeaways of food or non-alcoholic drinks are allowed after that time People with whom you don’t live cannot enter your home socially, unless you are in an extended household (bubble) with them. Tradespeople can enter your home to carry out work.*Read Wales’ official guidance. SOURCE: BBC News#manchesterunited#HealthForAll#HealthBroadcastingService#GlobalHealth#Covid-19#coronavirus#Health#paulpogba#ukcoronavirus#HealthBroadcastingServiceInPublicHealthPartnership#formula1abudhabi#timespersonoftheyear#manchesterunitedvsmanchestercity#sevillavsrealmadrid#pgaeuropeantour#billbailey#extraterrestriallife#vaccine#davidllander#paolorossi#leicestercityfc#elitedangerous#chelseavsleedsunited#bobingen#euromillions#softbank#ncis#capitalpunishment#juventusfc#goldiehawn#worldhealthorganisation#saturdaynightlive#robertwilkie#losangeleslakers #arsenalvsburnley #michaelschumacher