Health Secretary Matt Hancock this afternoon announced that in the last week Covid cases had risen 57% across England, and then proceeded to move a number of areas into higher tiers from Boxing Day, including Swindon.
Under the Tier 3 restrictions, pubs, restaurants and hotels will have to close their doors and can only trade if they can offer takeaway, delivery, click-and-collect or drive-through services.
People will also unable to meet up with family or friends inside or in private gardens and can now only meet in public locations such as parks.
However, non-essential shops can remain open and wedding can continue with 15 guests.
Tier 3 areas of England
South West
Bristol
Gloucestershire
Somerset including North Somerset council area
South Gloucestershire
Swindon
South East
Isle of Wight
New Forest
West Midlands
Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Warwickshire,
Coventry
Solihull
East Midlands
Derby and Derbyshire
Leicester City
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Northamptonshire
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
Yorkshire and The Humber
The Humber: East Riding of Yorkshire
Kingston upon Hull/Hull
North East Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire
South Yorkshire (Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield)
West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield)
North West
Cheshire
Greater Manchester
Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, and Blackpool
Warrington
North East
North East Combined Authority (this area includes the local authorities of County Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland)
North of Tyne Combined Authority (this area includes the local authorities of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland)
Tees Valley Combined Authority (this area includes the local authorities of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees)
