Tough new restrictions for England following rise in COVID-19 variant cases
The Prime Minister has announced tough new restrictions in England from 20 December, following the rise in transmission of a variant of COVID-19.
The London and the South East areas recently elevated from Tier 2 to Tier 3, are now in a new Tier 4, with restrictions similar to the November lockdown except communal worship can continue.
Everyone, in all tiers, is asked to stay local. People should carefully consider whether they need to travel abroad and follow rules in their tier.
Those in tier 4 areas are not permitted to travel abroad apart from limited exceptions, such as for work.
At Christmas, in England, those living in tier 4 areas should not mix with anyone outside their own household, though support bubbles remain for those at particular risk of loneliness.
In other areas of England, Christmas rules allowing up to three households to meet are now limited to Christmas Day.
The next formal review of tiers is on 30 December.
Prime Minister's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 19 December 2020
Local restriction tiers: what you need to know
