The government has confirmed what tiers each region will fall into as England prepares to come out of national lockdown next week.
To find out what tier your area falls into, all you have to do is enter your postcode here and the website will tell you the tier your area will be in after 2 December as well as the rules for that particular tier.
Tier 3 areas include:
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
- Leeds
- Hull
- City of Wolverhampton
- Blackpool
- Kent
- Coventry
- South Yorkshire
- Bristol
Tier 2 areas include:
- London
- Liverpool
- Dorset
However the website experienced difficulties shortly after it launched due to heavy traffic.
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Health secretary Matt Hancock is officially announcing the new tier system in the House of Commons this morning.
Differences between the tiers include limits on where households can meet up. In the new tier one, the lowest level of restrictions, the rule of six applies indoors and outdoors.
In tier two, the rule of six remains outdoors but there is no household mixing indoors.
What are the new tier rules?
Tier 1 (medium)
-Follow the rule of six if meeting indoors or outdoors
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-Pubs and restaurants to shut at 11pm
-People encouraged to minimise travel and work from home where possible
-Spectators allowed to attend sports events and live performances in limited numbers
-Personal care, including hair dressing, is allowed
Tier 2 (high)
-No household mixing indoors
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-Rule of six will apply outdoors
-Pubs and restaurants to shut at 11pm and alcohol is served only as part of a substantial meal
-Spectators allowed at sports events and live performances in limited numbers
-Personal care, including hair dressing, is allowed
Tier 3 (very high)
-No household mixing indoors or outdoors in hospitality venues or private gardens
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-Rule of six applies in outdoor public spaces e.g. parks
-Indoor entertainment venues will be closed
-Pubs and restaurants closed except for delivery and takeaway
-Avoid travelling in and out of the area
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-Personal care, including hairdressing, is allowed.
The government has promised that areas in tier 3 - the most severe level - will be able to receive rapid-result Covid-19 tests, with the Army helping out, to help bring down infections as well as cash subsidies.
The system will be regularly reviewed and an area's tier may change; Boris Johnson has previously stated that the tier allocations announced today will be reviewed on 16 December.
This means areas where the spread of Covid-19 slows down over the next few weeks could be moved down a tier before Christmas.
An area could be moved up or down a tier depending on factors such as case detection rates in all age groups, particularly the over-60s, how quickly cases are rising or falling, pressure on the NHS.
An area will be moved up a tier if these factors are not improve.
Earlier this week the government announced that up to three households will be allowed to meet indoors this Christmas. A five-day grace period over the Christmas holidays will enable families to meet between 23-27 December.
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