Coronavirus UK: What do the Tier 3 rules mean?

Large areas of southern England will be put in tier three this Saturday amid rising coronavirus levels, meaning millions more people will have to adapt to new rules.

Matt Hancock set out the findings today of the first full review of England’s tier allocations, with very little good news for areas already under tough restrictions.

Instead the Health Secretary was forced to place more areas, mostly in the South East, under the toughest measures – closing pubs, restaurants and cinemas.

The extra four million people mean a total of 38million will be living in tier three from Saturday, which represents 68 per cent of the population of England. 

Areas moving into tier three include Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Peterborough and parts of Surrey and Hampshire including Portsmouth.  

The rules mean people cannot meet in private gardens, but can see people from other households in public open spaces such as parks – following the ‘rule of six’.

Regulations also state the majority of entertainment and tourist venues must close, along with accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs and guest houses.

Here are what the rules mean for people living – or about to live in – tier three: 

Will the tier rules in England be lifted for the five days of Christmas bubbles?

No, the restrictions will still apply over the Christmas period. 

Will my pub be open on Christmas Eve in tier three?

No. Pubs, bars and restaurants will still have to be closed in tier three areas. They can open in tier two and one areas, with restrictions. 

Can Christmas bubbles still take place?

Yes. Whatever tier your area is in, regulations currently allow for three households to form an exclusive ‘Christmas bubble’ for the five days between December 23 and 27 across the UK.

However, yesterday the Welsh government said it will do things differently and legislate to cap bubbles at two households.

Politicians in England and Scotland have said while the rules will remain the same, they have changed their advice to recommend limiting social contacts as much as possible.

The tiers system only applies in England. 

Can I stay in a hotel?

No. Accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close, even during the Christmas bubble period. 

There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is ‘reasonably necessary for work or education and training’.

Where can Christmas bubbles take place?

You can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship or public outdoor spaces 

What can I do in England within any tier?

Today’s Tier changes  

MOVING TO TIER 3 ON SATURDAY 

Bedfordshire 

Buckinghamshire

Berkshire

Peterborough

Hertfordshire 

Surrey, apart from Waverley 

Hastings and Rother

Portsmouth, Gosport, Havant

MOVING FROM TIER 3 TO TIER 2 

Bristol, North Somerset

The Prime Minister has told people to ‘have a merry little Christmas – and I’m afraid this year I really do mean little’.

While Mr Johnson said ‘we don’t want to criminalise people’s long-made plans’, he warned people should be ‘extremely cautious’ when mixing next week and should minimise contacts in the days leading up to Christmas.

Updated guidance issued yesterday asks people to think carefully about whether they need to see elderly friends or family, or people who are ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’. But the advice did not go as far as other nations such as Wales.

Is my area currently in tier three?

The areas currently in tier three are Derbyshire, north-east England, most of Essex, Greater Manchester, the rest of Hertfordshire, the Humber, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, London, Nottinghamshire, South Gloucestershire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire.

Bristol and North Somerset are also currently in tier three, but will be moving down to tier two from 0.01am this Saturday.

Will my area be joining tier three? 

A total of 38 million people will be living in Tier Three from 0.01am this Saturday. Around five million people will be added to it after today’s announcement, in:

  • Bedfordshire (Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton)
  • Berkshire (Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor & Maidenhead, Wokingham)
  • Buckinghamshire (including Milton Keynes)
  • Peterborough in Cambridgeshire
  • Hastings and Rother in East Sussex
  • Gosport, Havant and Portsmouth in Hampshire
  • Dacorum, East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire, St Albans, Stevenage and Welwyn Hatfield in Hertfordshire
  • Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Guildford, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Tandridge and Woking in Surrey

Why is my area in tier three even though case rates are low?

There have been complaints that areas with lower rates of infection have been unfairly put in high tiers.

Tiers have generally been put in place across regional or county areas with some exceptions for towns or cities which have seen a particular spike, such as Peterborough in Cambridgeshire.

The reason is that the Government believes this will make measures more effective because it means people are less likely to travel across tier boundaries.  

What are the Tier 3 rules? 

  • Indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas, theatres and bowling alleys must close;
  • Pubs, restaurants and cafes must close except for takeaway;
  • Shops and hairdressers and salons will be allowed to remain open; 
  • Groups of six will be allowed to meet outdoors only; 
  • Crowds at live events will be banned;
  • People should avoid travelling out of, or into, Tier 3 areas unless it is unavoidable;
  • People from separate households cannot meet indoors and the rule of six applies outside. 

What are the main restrictions in tier three? 

  • No household mixing indoors or outdoors, except in parks and public gardens
  • All hospitality is closed, except for takeaways and deliveries
  • All accommodation and entertainment venues are closed

What does tier three mean?

This is a ‘very high’ alert level – the highest of the three-tier system – for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level of infections, where tighter restrictions are in place.

Can I see my friends or family indoors?

No, unless they are in the same household. The rules for this are the same in tier two.

Can I see my friends and family outdoors?

Yes, but not in private gardens. You can only socialise in groups of up to six people in other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility.

Does the ‘rule of six’ apply in tier three?

Yes. It applies to when you meet people from other households in outdoor public spaces. You cannot mix with other households indoors or in private gardens. 

Can I go the pub or restaurant?

No. These all have to shut under law, except for takeaway.

Can I get a takeaway?

Yes. Hospitality settings, such as pubs, cafes and restaurants are allowed to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.

How does government decide what Tiers areas are put into? 

Boris Johnson promised to base Tier allocation on ‘common sense’, and the government’s ‘Winter Plan’ set out a series of metrics to be used. They are:

  • Case detection rates in all age groups;
  • Case detection rates in the over 60s;
  • The rate at which cases are rising or falling;
  • Positivity rate (the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken); and
  • Pressure on the NHS, including current and projected occupancy.

However, there are no specific numerical trigger points, and the document added that there will be ‘some flexibility to weight these indicators against each other as the context demands’. 

‘For example, hospital capacity in a given area will need to be considered in the light of the capacity in neighbouring areas and the feasibility of moving patients,’ the document said. 

‘Case detection rates will need to be weighted against whether the spread of the virus appears to be localised to particular communities.’ 

What venues have to stay shut?

The majority of entertainment and tourist venues must close, including:

  • indoor play centres and areas, including trampolining parks and soft play
  • casinos
  • bingo halls
  • bowling alleys
  • skating rinks
  • amusement arcades and adult gaming centres
  • laser quests and escape rooms
  • cinemas, theatres and concert halls
  • snooker halls

Can indoor attractions at outdoor venues stay open?

No. Indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close, although indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open.

This includes indoor attractions within:

  • zoos, safari parks, and wildlife reserves
  • aquariums, visitor attractions at farms, and other animal attractions
  • model villages
  • museums, galleries and sculpture parks
  • botanical gardens, biomes or greenhouses
  • theme parks, circuses, fairgrounds and funfairs
  • visitor attractions at film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes
  • landmarks including observation decks and viewing platforms

Can leisure and sports facilities stay open?

Yes, with restrictions. Group exercise classes including fitness and dance should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should also close.

Can I attend a live sports event?

No. There should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. However, elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators.

Can large outdoor events take place?

No. The likes of performances and shows should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events.

Can I still go to church?

Yes. Places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies

Can a wedding take place?

Yes. weddings can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 15 people can attend the ceremonies, and receptions are not allowed.

Can I go to a funeral?

Yes. Thirty people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events

Can organised outdoor sport take place?

Yes. Organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however ‘higher-risk contact activity should not take place’.

Can indoor sport take place?

No. Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors.

There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s.

Can I still travel to places?

Yes. You can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should ‘aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible’.

Can I go on holiday to other parts of Britain?

No. You should ‘avoid travelling to other parts of the UK’, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. However, you can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey.

Can I go abroad?

Yes, with restrictions. For international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list.