Tier 4 areas MAPPED: When do the new tiers start?
TIERED RESTRICTIONS remain in place across the UK, with several areas pencilled to move up to Tier 4 and Tier 3 in the coming days. But when exactly do the new tiers start?
Matt Hancock announces more areas going into Tier 4
Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation on Wednesday in the wake of news areas across England would be plunged into stricter lockdown conditions. Once in place, 78 percent of England will be under the tightest restrictions - Tier 4 - with the rest under Tier 3, and only the Isles of Scilly in Tier 1.
Mr Johnson said: "At this critical moment, with the prospect of freedom within reach, we've got to redouble our efforts to contain the virus.
"No-one regrets these measures more bitterly than I do, but we must take firm action now."
Now political leaders in areas about to enter the highest coronavirus restrictions have called on the Government to consider a national lockdown.
Mayors and council leaders said the decision "comes as no real surprise" given the pressing need to stem the spread of the virus but said it was time for a "consistent national approach".
Read More: COVID-19 latest: Boris confident vaccine will be game changer
When do the new tiers start?
In total, 44 million people across England will be under Tier 4 restrictions once the rules come into effect.
The new tiers will start from 0.01am on Thursday, December 31.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged people to take "personal responsibility" to stop the spread of the virus.
He told the Commons: "It is on all of us, and it is about how everybody behaves.
"Because if we collectively decide to stop this by taking personal responsibility and not coming into contact with others unless it is absolutely necessary that is how we can slow the spread of this virus within of course the tier restrictions which are necessary.
"But ultimately it is about how we all behave, that is how we get through the next few weeks together and then the vaccine can come and save us."
Both Mr Hancock and Mr Johnson have called on Britons to keep New Year celebrations within households and bubbles as Covid cases surge.
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The main restrictions in Tier 4 are:
- No household mixing allowed, though one person can meet one other person outside in a public space
- All non-essential shops and businesses must close, including personal care and indoor entertainment
- Nobody can enter or leave Tier 4 areas
- Residents must not stay overnight away from home
Some 20 million people have been added to Tier 4 from Thursday at 0.01am in the following areas:
Cheshire -
- Cheshire East
- Cheshire West & Chester
- Warrington
Cumbria -
- Allerdale
- Barrow-in-Furness
- Carlisle
- Copeland
- Eden
- South Lakeland
Derbyshire -
- Amber Valley
- Bolsover
- Chesterfield
- Derby
- Derbyshire Dales
- Erewash
- High Peak
- North East Derbyshire
- South Derbyshire
Dorset -
- Bournemouth
- Christchurch & Poole
Durham
Gloucestershire -
- Cheltenham
- Cotswold
- Forest of Dean
- Gloucester
- Stroud
- Tewkesbury
Greater Manchester -
- Bolton
- Bury
- Manchester
- Oldham
- Rochdale
- Salford
- Stockport
- Tameside
- Trafford
- Wigan
Hampshire -
- Isle of Wight
- New Forest
Lancashire -
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Blackpool
- Burnley
- Chorley
- Fylde
- Hyndburn
- Lancaster
- Pendle
- Preston
- Ribble Valley
- Rossendale
- South Ribble
- West Lancashire
- Wyre
Leicestershire -
- Blaby
- Charnwood
- Harborough
- Hinckley & Bosworth
- Leicester
- Melton
- North West Leicestershire
- Oadby & Wigston
Lincolnshire -
- Boston
- East Lindsey
- Lincoln
- North Kesteven
- South Holland
- South Kesteven
- West Lindsey
Northamptonshire -
- Corby
- Daventry
- East Northamptonshire
- Kettering
- Northampton
- South Northamptonshire
- Wellingborough
- Northumberland
Nottinghamshire -
- Ashfield
- Bassetlaw
- Broxtowe
- Gedling
- Mansfield
- Newark & Sherwood
- Nottingham
- Rushcliffe
Somerset -
- Mendip
- Sedgemoor
- Somerset West & Taunton
- South Somerset
Staffordshire -
- Cannock Chase
- East Staffordshire
- Lichfield
- Newcastle-under-Lyme
- South Staffordshire
- Stafford
- Staffordshire Moorlands
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Tamworth
Tees Valley -
- Darlington
- Hartlepool
- Middlesbrough
- Redcar & Cleveland
- Stockton-on-Tees
Tyne & Wear -
- Gateshead
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- North Tyneside
- South Tyneside
- Sunderland
Warwickshire -
- North Warwickshire
- Nuneaton & Bedworth
- Rugby
- Stratford-on-Avon
- Warwick
West Midlands metropolitan county -
- Birmingham
- Coventry
- Dudley
- Sandwell
- Solihull
- Walsall
- Wolverhampton
Wiltshire -
- Swindon