With the national lockdown set to end on Wednesday 2nd December, Swindonians will find out which level of the new three-tier system we will be placed into on Thursday.
On Monday Boris Johnson said “I am sorry to say we expect that more regions will fall – at least temporarily – into higher levels than before.
“But by using these tougher tiers and by using rapid turnaround tests on an ever greater scale to drive R below one and keep it there, it should be possible for areas to move down the tiering scale to lower levels of restrictions.”
The Government will set out the criteria that it will consider when making its decision on the tiers tomorrow ahead of the announcement.
The five main factors expected to be used are:
- Case detection rates in all age groups
- Case detection rates in the over 60s
- The rate at which cases are rising or falling.
- The positivity rate – the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken
- Pressure on the NHS, including current and projected occupancy.
How many Covid-19 cases are there in Swindon?
Swindon currently has a rate of 167.87 per 100,000 people in the seven days up to 19th November.
Infections throughout the South West are mostly relatively low, esspecially throughout Devopn and Cornwall. Bristol’s figure of 390.18 per 100,000 will not help the region if, as some are reporting, the new tiered structure is based on a wider region rather than local authority.
West Oxfordshire 85.86
Vale of the White Horse 88.97
Cotswolds 93.48
West Bere 99.08
Wiltshire 131.39
Swindon 167.7
Bristol 390.18
It is understood the tiers will be reviewed every two weeks from December 2nd.
What are the rules in each tier?
Tier one: Medium alert
- Meeting friends and family: Maximum of six indoors or outdoors, other than single households or support bubbles
- Bars, pubs, restaurants: Table service only. Last orders at 10pm, close 11pm
- Open: Retail, entertainment, accommodation, personal care, eg hairdressers, beauty salons and nail bars, indoor leisure, eg gyms and swimming
- Travelling: Walk or cycle if possible. Avoid travel into tier three areas (except where necessary, eg for work, education, medical attention)
- Overnight stays: Permitted, with household, support bubble or up to six people
- Work and business: Everyone who can work from home should do so
- Education: Open in all tiers. Childcare permitted
- Places of worship: Open, but cannot interact with more than six people
- Weddings and funerals: 15 guests for weddings, civil partnerships, wedding receptions and wakes; 30 for funerals
- Exercise: Classes and organised adult sport can take place outdoors, but must follow Rule of Six indoors. Activities for elite athletes, under-18s and disabled people can continue
- Large events, eg elite sport, live performances and conferences: Open to the public, but limited to 50 per cent capacity or 4,000 outdoors/1,000 indoors (whichever is lower)
Tier Two: High alert
- Meeting friends and family: No mixing of households indoors, apart from support bubbles. Maximum of six outdoors
- Bars, pubs, restaurants: Pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals. Last orders 10pm, close 11pm
- Open: Retail, entertainment, accommodation, Personal care, eg hairdressers, beauty salons and nail bars, indoor leisure, eg gyms and swimming
- Travelling: Reduce journeys where possible. Avoid travel into tier three areas (except where necessary)
- Overnight stays: Permitted, with household or support bubble only
- Work and business: Everyone who can work from home should do so
- Education: Open all tiers. Childcare permitted
- Places of worship: Open, but cannot interact with anyone outside household or support bubble
- Weddings and funerals: 15 guests for weddings, civil partnerships, wedding receptions and wakes; 30 for funerals
- Exercise: Classes and organised adult sport can take place outdoors, but not indoors between people from different households. Organised activities for elite athletes, under-18s and disabled people can continue
- Large events: Open to the public, but limited to 50 per cent capacity or 2,000 outdoors/1,000 indoors (whichever is lower)
Tier three: Very high alert
- Meeting friends and family: No mixing of households indoors or most outdoor places except parks, sports courts, public gardens where Rule of Six is in place. Support bubbles exempt
- Bars, pubs, restaurants: Closed except sales by takeaway, drive-through or delivery
- Open: Retail, personal care, eg hairdressers, beauty salons and nail bars, indoor leisure, eg gyms and swimming
- Closed: Indoor venues such as cinemas, indoor bowling, casinos
- Travelling: Avoid travelling out of the area, other than where necessary eg for work, education, medical attention
- Overnight stays: No overnight stays outside of local area, unless necessary for work, education or similar
- Accommodation: Closed (with limited exceptions such as work purposes)
- Work and business: Everyone who can work from home should do so.
- Education: Open in all tiers. Childcare permitted
- Places of worship: Open, but cannot interact with anyone outside household or support bubble
- Weddings and funerals: 15 guests for weddings, civil partnerships and wakes; 30 for funerals. Wedding receptions not permitted
- Exercise: Classes and organised adult sport can take place outdoors, but people should avoid higher-risk contact activity. Group exercise activities and sport indoors should not take place, unless with household or bubble. Organised activities for elite athletes, under-18s and disabled people can continue
- Large events: Events should not take place. Drive-in events permitted
