Liverpool City Region moving into Tier 3 restrictions – What it means

 Tier 3: Very High Alert

Today’s national tier review has confirmed that Liverpool and the wider city region (Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral)  is to move to ‘Tier 3 – Very High Alert’ at 00:01 on 31 December 2020.

Liverpool’s Acting Mayor, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “Although this is not the news we wanted to hear, I’m confident that the people of Liverpool will do everything they can to follow the Tier 3 guidelines and ensure we stop the spread of this virus.

“Liverpool’s SMART Test Centres remain open and I encourage people who are not experiencing any symptoms of Covid-19 to get tested regularly in order to protect themselves and those around them.”

It is really important people follow the guidance to keep infection levels as low as possible.

General guidance across all tiers

Everyone must continue to:

• wear a face covering  in most indoor public settings, unless they have an exemption
• follow the  rules on meeting others safely 
• attend school or college as normal when possible, unless they are self-isolating.
• walk or cycle where possible, plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes when travelling
• follow the gathering limits at their tier except for in specific settings and circumstances.  View further information on exemptions .

Moving into Tier 3 means

Under Tier 3 restrictions, there is no mixing of households indoors, or most outdoor places, apart from support bubbles. Maximum of six in some outdoor spaces (eg parks, sports courts, public gardens).

Hospitality, such as pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes, are allowed to stay open for takeaway service only. Previously, pubs and restaurants were allowed to stay open if they served substantial meals.

Cinemas remain closed, as do theatres and other indoor entertainment venues such as casinos, bingo halls and skating rinks.

But outdoor sports, such as golf can continue, as can amateur team sports like Sunday-league football.

The other rules are:

• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees (15 and 30 respectively), but wedding receptions are not allowed
• Non-essential shops are allowed to stay open, including hairdressers and other personal care businesses
• People should try to avoid travelling outside the ‘very high’ area they are in other than for things like work, education, accessing youth services, to meet caring responsibilities or if they are in transit
• Indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close, including cinemas, theatres, indoor play centres, concert halls, skating rinks and casinos
• Leisure and sports facilities, such as gyms, can stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead indoors
• Organised outdoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place
• Hotels, B&Bs, campsites and guest houses have to shut 
• Places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies
• People should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if they are resident in a ‘very high’ area, or avoid staying overnight in a ‘very high’ area if they are resident elsewhere

Further information

There is separate guidance for  households with a possible or confirmed coronavirus infection  and additional advice at each tier will be provided shortly for  people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus. 

There is also separate guidance for  support  and  childcare bubbles , which apply across all tiers.

How often are the Tiers reviewed?

Reviews will take place every two weeks, with the decision taken by Government Ministers.

If Covid cases start rising, an area may move up a Tier.

If Covid cases are falling, an area may move down a Tier.

More Government guidance can be read at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know