Boris Johnson has this afternoon announced tough new Tier 4 rules in England to come in force from tomorrow morning, after warnings from scientists over a new variant of Covid-19 and surging infections.
The Prime Minister has spent much of today discussing tightening restrictions with senior ministers after it was confirmed that there was a new strain of the virus which could spread more quickly.
The new rules will be essentially the same as the November lockdown where non-essential retail, as well as leisure facilities, and personal care such as hairdressers must close.
Residents of Tier 4 area must not stay overnight in lower infection spots and
people in other Tiers are being advised not to go into the highest tier areas.
Tier 4 restrictions will apply in all current tier 3 areas in the South-East, covering Kent, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey (excluding Waverley), Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings.
It will also apply in London (all 32 boroughs and the City of London) and the East of England (Bedford, Central Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).
