Tier 2 travel restrictions: Can Tier 2 travel to Tier 1?
THREE local Covid-19 alerts have been brought in to stop the rising infection rate. What are the Tier 2 travel restrictions?
Local lockdown: Country to be divided into tiered risk areas
The new three-tier system of local lockdowns categorises different areas in the UK as either medium risk, high risk, or very high risk..
Most of the UK is in either Tier 2 or Tier 1, and the restrictions are different in each area.
Tier 2 is considered a high risk area, and so stricter measures have been put in place.
Tier 2 residents can no longer meet up with other households indoors.
So what are the Tier 2 travel restrictions, and can Tier 2 travel to Tier 1?
What are the rules for the different tiers?
Most of England is in Tier 1, with only a few exceptions in Tiers 2 and 3.
In this area, the rules are staying the same.
This means there is a 10pm curfew for bars, pubs and restaurants in Tier 1.
It also means that the rule of six is still in play, excluding guests at weddings and funerals.
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Anywhere in Tier 1 is considered a medium risk area for now, but Sadiq Khan has warned that this could change at any moment.
A spokesperson for the mayor said: “As of today, London is at 'medium' in the government's new alert levels.
"However, Londoners should understand that this could change very quickly - potentially even this week."
If an area’s infection rate rises it will be moved into a higher tier
Tier 2 areas are subjected to stricter rules, with the mixing of households indoors not allowed at all.
Two households are allowed to meet in a private garden, as long as no more than six people are present and everyone is socially distancing.
The curfew on pubs, restaurants and bars still applies in Tier 2.
Areas in Tier 2 include Manchester, Bolton, Derbyshire, Lancashire, West and South Yorkshire, most of the North East, some of West Midlands such as Birmingham, Leicester,
Nottingham, and more.
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Tier 3 has even stricter rules, with residents of these areas unable to meet anyone from another household whether that’s indoors, outdoors, or in private gardens.
Pubs and bars are closing, but restaurants and pubs that can operate as restaurants are allowed to remain in business.
Local leaders get to decide whether gyms, hairdressers and salons can stay open.
Non-essential jobs, schools, and universities will remain open in these areas.
It’s also important for residents in these areas to avoid non-essential travel, so plenty of people will be working from home when they can.
Tier 3 residents are advised against travelling to Tier 2 and 1 areas.
Areas in Tier 3 include:
- Liverpool
- Knowsley
- Wirral
- St Helens
- Sefton
- Halton
Can Tier 2 travel to Tier 1?
While the Government’s written advice states that Tier 3 residents shouldn’t travel to the other Tiers, it says nothing explicitly about Tier 2 residents travelling to Tier 1.
There is no legal restriction on travelling between the tiers, so technically you could travel from Tier 2 to Tier 1.
However, the Government is advising people from Tiers 2 and 3 to stay put.
Anyone in a high area is “advised not to travel in and out of these areas.”
The main advice is to avoid travelling somewhere with a higher risk.
The site says: “You should also avoid travelling to any part of the country subject to higher local COVID alert levels.”
If you want to see someone from Tier 1, they can visit you in Tier 2 as long as they follow the stricter rules.
The Government’s site explains: “You may continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, for work, voluntary, charitable or youth services, or to access education, within a high alert level area, but you should and aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible.
“You can still travel within high alert level areas to hotels and other guest accommodation, but you should only do this with people in your household or support bubble.
“You can still go on holiday outside of high alert level areas, but you must only do this with people in your household or support bubble.
“When travelling, it is important that you respect the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and do not travel to different parts of the UK where their intended activities there would be prohibited by legislation passed by the relevant devolved administration.”