Winter Covid-19 plan published by govt - here's what you need to know

The Prime Minister has published the government’s Covid Winter Plan, setting out the end of national restrictions next week.

National restrictions will end just after midnight on Wednesday 2 December, as the government says the ‘collective effort’ during the recent restrictions has brought the virus back under control, slowed its spread and eased pressure on the NHS.

England will move back into a regional, tiered approach with amendments made from the previous tier system. Tiering allocations will be reviewed every 14 days, and tiering regulations will expire in law at the end of March. There will be no negotiations on additional measures in each region.

The government will announce on Thursday 26 November which tier will apply to the Rochdale borough.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Without sensible precautions, we would risk the virus escalating into a winter or New Year surge.

“The incidence of the disease is, alas, still widespread in many areas, so we are not going to replace national measures with a free for all, the status quo ante Covid.

“We are going to go back instead to a regional tiered approach, applying the toughest measures where Covid is most prevalent.

“I am very sorry for the unavoidable hardship that this will cause to business owners who have already endured so much disruption this year.”

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What will the new rules be?

Regardless of tier, the following will apply:

• The stay at home requirement will end, with travel being permitted again subject to guidance in each tier
• Shops will reopen - essential and non-essential retailers, including indoor and outdoor markets and car boot sales
• Gyms, leisure centres, fitness and dance studios, golf courses, swimming pools, riding centres, outdoor playgrounds will all reopen
• Personal care and close contact services such as hairdressers and barbers, beauty salons, tattoo parlours, nail salons, spas and beauty services, massage parlours and tanning salons can reopen
• Collective worship can resume, subject to relevant social contact rules in each tier
• Weddings can resume with 15 guests (receptions are not allowed under tier 3)
• Outdoor sports can resume
• People will not be limited to seeing one other person in outdoor public spaces
• The rule of six will apply outdoors
• Everyone who can work from home should
• Early years settings, schools, colleges and universities remain open
• Registered childcare, other supervised activities for children and childcare bubbles permitted

 

It will be announced on Thursday 26 November which areas will be in each tier.

What rules are in place under the new tiers?

 

Tier 3 – Very High alert

• No mixing of households indoors or most outdoor places, apart from support bubbles
• The rule of six applies to some outdoor public places such as parks
• Pubs and restaurants must close, except for delivery and takeaway
• Spectator sports cannot resume
• Indoor entertainment venues closed, such as cinemas, casinos and bowling alleys
• Personal care allowed, including hairdressing
• Avoid travelling in/out of the area except where necessary (eg: work, education, medical attention, youth services or caring responsibilities)
• No overnight stays outside of local area unless necessary (eg: work, education or similar)
• Wedding receptions are not permitted

 

Tier 2 – High alert

• No mixing of households indoors, apart from support bubbles
• The maximum rule of six applies outdoors
• Pubs and restaurants must shut at 11pm
• Alcohol can only be served as part of a substantial meal
• Spectator sports and live performances can resume with the smaller of 50% of stadium capacity or 2,000 spectators
• Personal care allowed, including hairdressing
• Avoid travel into Tier 3 areas except where necessary (eg: work, education, medical attention, youth services or caring responsibilities)
• Overnight stays are permitted with your household or support bubble

 

Tier 1 – Medium alert

• The maximum rule of six applies if meeting people indoors or outdoors, other than single households or support bubbles
• Pubs and restaurants must shut at 11pm
• People will be encouraged to minimise travel and work from home where possible
• Personal care allowed, including hairdressing
• Spectator sports and live performances can resume with the smaller of a maximum crowd of either 50% of stadium capacity or 4,000 spectators
• Avoid travel into Tier 3 areas except where necessary (eg: work, education, medical attention, youth services or caring responsibilities)
• Overnight stays are permitted with your household, support bubble or up to six people

 

The tiers will be based on the following criteria:

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

Ministers continue to work with the Devolved Administrations on plans for temporary relaxation over Christmas and will set out details soony, including for the clinically extremely vulnerable.

Community testing in tier 3 areas will be rapidly extended by government.

Following the example of Liverpool, tier 3 areas will be able to participate in a six-week community testing programme to identify asymptomatic cases, and ensure they self-isolate.

The government also plans to introduce frequent testing as an alternative to the need for self-isolation for people who have had close contact with a positive case.

Instead, contacts would have regular tests during the isolation period and only have to self-isolate if they test positive.

This will be trialled in Liverpool first then, if successful, will be rolled out across the NHS and care homes in December, and to everyone else from early next year.

Responding to the announcement, Chris Fletcher, director of policy and communications at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said: “For many businesses in the hospitality sector there is little immediate cheer as regards Tier 3 measures when only takeaway and delivery services will be allowed and many will be anxiously waiting on the week’s second announcement on Thursday when confirmation of what Tier regions will be in. With current infection rates falling but still substantially higher than the national average it is hard to see anything but the highest level of restrictions being imposed next week.

“There is some good news with retail being re-opened and loosening of other restrictions alongside more widespread testing and progress on vaccines, but without the prospect of adequate business support for those still unable to trade fully it could be a very long winter indeed and for many the economic challenges will intensify before they get better.”

Also responding, Josh Hardie, CBI Acting Director-General, added: “Further commitment to financial support will still be needed for thousands of struggling companies – particularly those in higher tiers still looking into the precipice.”

You can read the full COVID Winter Plan here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-winter-plan