From 00.01 on 26 December, all districts within the Hampshire County Council area currently in Tier 2 (High alert) will move to Tier 4 (Stay at Home), with the exception of the local authority area of the New Forest which will move to Tier 3 (Very High alert). The local authority areas of Gosport and Havant will remain in Tier 4.
This follows the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s announcement of the introduction of tighter COVID-19 restrictions to help curb the spread of a new variant of coronavirus in some parts of the country.
Councillor Keith Mans, Leader of Hampshire County Council and Chair of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board, said: “Central Government has confirmed that all areas of Hampshire will be placed under COVID-19 Tier 4 restrictions from Saturday, 26 December, with the exception of the New Forest.
“While this announcement may come as a surprise, given that many will have been expecting the next statutory Tier review to take place on 30 December, it is a reflection of rapidly rising infection rates across our county and the impact on local hospitals. Therefore, it is crucial that we all take the necessary steps to protect the public’s health – particularly those who are elderly or clinically extremely vulnerable. It’s the right thing to do.
“We must continue to work together, follow the rules for our Tiers and protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities, especially with the threat of a new COVID-19 variant spreading much faster in Tier 4 areas, and the ongoing rise in transmission in general across the country.”
The key restrictions for Tier 4 (Stay at Home) require:
• Residents to stay at home, apart from limited exemptions set out in law
• Non-essential retail, indoor gyms and leisure facilities, and personal care services to close
• People to work from home if they can but they may travel to work if this is not possible, for example in the construction and manufacturing sectors
• People not to enter or leave Tier 4 areas, and Tier 4 residents must not stay overnight away from home. Individuals can only meet one person from another household in an outdoor public space.
The key restrictions for Tier 3 (Very High alert) require:
• Rule of six to be applied in specified large outdoor spaces • People to not meet socially indoors or in gardens, apart from with their own households or with their support bubble • People to work from home if they can but they may travel to work if this is not possible, for example in the construction and manufacturing sectors • People to stay local where possible and avoid travel outside their Tier 3 area including overnight, unless for essential reasons.
Full details of the Tier 4 restrictions and Tier 3 restrictions are available on the Government’s website.