New regional tier system in place after the end of national lockdown measures
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of the Covid Winter Plan, the Government has confirmed that from 2 December, Hertfordshire will be placed in Tier 2: High Alert of the revised three-tiered system of local restrictions.
David Williams, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, said:
It has been announced that following the end of the national lockdown, Hertfordshire as a whole will move into Tier 2: High Alert, in the Government's new system of Covid-19 Alert Levels. We have been in ongoing dialog with the Government and this decision is based on a series of indicators that reflect the continued prevalence of the virus in the county.
In recent weeks we have been working closely with the NHS, and Hertfordshire’s District and Borough councils in preparation for the end of the national lockdown. As such, we are well prepared to continue supporting our communities to come through the new level of restrictions.
We understand that being in Tier 2 will bring concerns for many. These will include the restriction on socialising with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, as well as the economic consequences, especially for our hospitality sector.
So now it is more important than ever that we re-double our efforts to ensure that the recent downward trend in our infection rates is sustained in order to secure a move to Tier 1 as soon as possible.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all Hertfordshire residents who have continued to play their part over the last month by adhering to the national restrictions. However, the virus is still circulating widely in the community, and we must not let our guard down in the run up to the festive period.
The recent announcement of a vaccine marks a significant step forward in the fight against Covid-19, yet we cannot afford to be complacent. We must all continue to take responsibility to lower the risks in our day-to-day lives by playing our part - keeping up the basics of hand-washing, social distancing and wearing face-masks, getting a test if you develop symptoms and self-isolating when required – and now following the restrictions which apply to Tier 2.
Lewis Cocking, Leader of Broxbourne Council said:
Today the government announced that Hertfordshire, and Broxbourne, has been placed in Tier two once the national restrictions end on 2 December.
This is disappointing for the Borough. However, the number of cases in Broxbourne has risen significantly since September despite the best efforts of residents and businesses.
Being placed in tier two means that you must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place. It also means that you cannot socialise outdoors in a group of more than six people.
Pubs and bars cannot reopen unless they also operate as a restaurant as it will not be permitted to serve alcohol unless it is with a substantial meal.
The restrictions have been hard on us all and I know after a long year, it is easy to become complacent. I urge everyone to remain vigilant and follow the tier two guidance to give us the best chance of avoiding further rises in cases and risking even tougher restrictions.
In addition, it is more important than ever that we continue to wash our hands regularly, wear face coverings where required and keep at least two metres apart from those you don’t live with.
Under the new restrictions non-essential retail outlets, places of worship and leisure facilities will re-open across the county in line with government guidance. The rule of six will apply in outdoor settings, and only a household and their support bubble will be able to mix indoors. More information on the revised Tier 2 restrictions can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#high-alert
For help, advice and guidance on COVID-19 visit the coronavirus section of the Council's website.