I have a few points to make about the new three tier system to be announced today for restricting our lives and businesses, to suppress Covid-19.
1) Last Wednesday, the government was so worried about the spread of coronavirus in the north of England that it was planning to impose new restrictions on places like Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle before announcing the three-tier framework. Because of opposition from city mayors and local authorities, that is now not going to happen. The three-tier framework will come first.
2) However, it is probable that there will be new restrictions announced today for Liverpool, if agreement with the Mayor Steve Rotheram is reached in time – which seems highly likely. In other words Liverpool will be the first place in England to be subject to Tier Three restrictions.
3) This highest tier, Tier Three, will have four main characteristics.
a) Pubs and restaurants will be closed for all business except takeaways. That will be a legally enforceable rule.
b) Local people will be asked – as guidance rather than a legally enforceable rule – to only make essential journeys within a Tier Three area.
c) People living within a Tier Three area will be urged not to leave the area, unless it is absolutely necessary. Again that will be guidance.
d) And people living outside a Tier Three area will be asked not to travel to a Tier Three area unless essential, and they will be urged not to stay overnight. Again that will be guidance.
For the avoidance of doubt, Tier One restrictions are the baseline restrictions applying everywhere in England, unless areas are subject to Tier Two or Three restrictions.
The core of Tier One is the ‘Rule of Six’ – where only six people are allowed in a home or garden, or sitting at a pub table or restaurant table – and there is a 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants.
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