Video: York and North Yorkshire go into Tier 3 at midnight – Here’s what that means to you
York’s climbing coronavirus rates have seen it moved into Tier 3 from midnight tonight.
The city will be joining the East Riding, already there, and North Yorkshire also moves into that tier (3) as well.
The move was revealed by the government today as it announced a widespread tightening of the restrictions over fears that Covid-19 rates are running out of control.
The number of people to have died with coronavirus in the UK has gone up by 981, according to official figures.
And the number of people to have tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours is 50,023.
These figures compare to yesterday’s UK case rise of 53,135, and mortality number of 414. Today’s deaths figure is the highest since 9 April.
And York’s coronavirus rate has quadrupled in a month.
York was previously in Tier 2 – High. From midnight the city will be in Tier 3 – Very High.
Matt Hancock says the NHS is under stress – as his department issues list of other areas moving to the even higher Tier 4 from the beginning of tomorrow.
The Midlands, North East, parts of the North West and parts of the South West are among those escalated to Tier 4, with almost all remaining areas escalated to Tier 3.
It means three quarters of the country will be under the toughest Tier 4, Mr Hancock says.
That means that our neighbours Lancashire, Cumbria and the Tees Valley move to Tier 4
Read more about the reaction to ths “Cruel Virus” from the leader of City of York Council on YorkMix here
Tier 3 Rules explained
Here’s a guide to Tier 3 rules for York and North Yorkshire. The East Riding is already in that tier and remains there for now.
Shops
Non-essential shops can open. So can gyms, hairdressers and other personal care businesses.
Places of worship can open and weddings are allowed within local restrictions.
Pubs and restaurants
Hospitality venues must close, except for delivery and takeaways.
In tier 3, hotels and other accommodation providers must also close, except for certain work purposes where people cannot return home.
Sport
Outdoor sports, including golf and tennis, can continue in all tiers, as can amateur team sports such as football.
Unlike the first two tiers, fans can’t watch sport in tier 3.
Venues which can remain open
These outdoor venues can remain open:
- outdoor tourism and entertainment venues can remain open subject to following the relevant rules and guidelines
- outdoor cinemas, theatres and concert venues can remain open for drive-in only, but must close at 11pm, other than for the purposes of concluding a performance which began before 10pm
- outdoor events, such as funfairs can continue to happen in line with COVID-secure guidance – other than large outdoor performance events (performances, shows and screenings), which must be drive-in only
- leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead
- retail premises may open, other than shops situated inside closed premises that cannot be accessed directly from the street – retail premises within accommodation may also stay open
- personal care and close contact services such as hairdressers and barbers, beauty salons, tattoo parlours, nail salons, spas and beauty services, saunas, steam rooms, massage parlours and tanning salons can remain open
- community centres and halls, and libraries can remain open. Group events should not take place, unless there’s a specific legal exemption to the social contact rules e.g. support groups, supervised activities for children
- recycling and waste centres, car parks, and public toilets may continue to stay open
Meeting people
People must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody they do not live with, or who is not in their support bubble.
This includes in any private garden. At outdoor spaces such as parks or beaches people must not socialise in groups of more than six.
Work
Everyone who can work from home should do so.
You can travel within your area for work, education and purposes of providing care or medical assistance, but the guidance says you should avoid travelling outside your area and reduce the number of journeys you make wherever possible.
People in all tiers are advised to stay local, and if you travel, your restrictions follow you. For example, if you live in a tier 3 area, you must continue to follow tier 3 rules even when you travel to a tier 1 or tier 2 area.
See the full tier 3 guidance here.