Coronavirus: Three-tier lockdown system unveiled in England by Prime Minister Boris Johnson
THE prime minister has announced a new three-tier lockdown system for England.
Areas across the country will be placed into ‘medium’, ‘high’ and ‘very high’ alert levels under the new restrictions that Boris Johnson announced in the House of Commons this afternoon.
Medium areas will still have the rule of six and the 10pm hospitality curfew.
Areas on the high alert level will mean households are banned from mixing but support bubbles will be allowed.
Pubs and bars in areas under the very high alert level will have to close unless they can operate as a restaurant. Social mixing will be prohibited indoors and in private gardens.
People will also be advised against travel in and out of the areas.
It comes after a rise in Covid-19 cases and deaths.
Boris Johnson said: ‘This morning, the deputy chief medical officer set out the stark reality of the second wave of this virus.
‘The number of cases has quadrupled in the last three weeks, there are now more people in hospital with Covid than when we went into lockdown on March 23 and deaths are already rising.’
Portsmouth had an infection rate of 61.9 per 100,000 with 133 new cases in the seven days to October 8.
Schools, non-essential retail and universities will remain open in all levels.
A postcode checker will be launched on the Government’s website to advise people what guidance applies to their area.
Each local authority area will be placed in a local Covid alert level by the end of Monday, Downing Street said.