Tier Three — Very High Alert: what it means for Northamptonshire

New restrictions kick in from Boxing Day
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Northamptonshire is now a 'very high risk' area in Tier Three under the Government's Winter Plan to tackle the spread of Covid-19.

Tougher restrictions from one minute past midnight on Boxing Day, announced by Matt Hancock on Wednesday, will prevent friends and families meeting up in homes, force pubs, bars and restaurants to close, and ban wedding receptions..

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People are advised to stay at home as much as possible, although shops and personal businesses such as hairdressers are still open.

Northamptonshire is a Tier Three area from one minute past midnight on Boxing Day. Photo: Getty ImagesNorthamptonshire is a Tier Three area from one minute past midnight on Boxing Day. Photo: Getty Images
Northamptonshire is a Tier Three area from one minute past midnight on Boxing Day. Photo: Getty Images

Sports fans will be stopped from going to today's rugby clash between Northampton Saints and Worcester, the National League derby between Kettering Town and Brackley Town plus Brackley's home game against Gloucester on Monday; and Tuesday night's Northampton Town game against Gillingham in the EFL.

Several areas around Northamptonshire — Milton Keynes, Bedford and Peterborough — are already in a an even higher tier where non-essential shops are shut and people in Tier Three should not travel to those areas.

Tier Three - Very High Alert: what it means:

■ You cannot mix indoors, in private gardens or in most outdoor venues, except with your own household or support bubble. This means you cannot invite people you do not live with over to your house or in your garden unless they are in your bubble

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■ You can meet with others in public outdoor places, such as parks or countryside, but only in groups of up to six people — this is known as the Rule of Six. The limit of six includes children of any age. You can continue to meet in a group larger than six if you are all from the same household or support bubble, or another legal exemption applies.

■ All shops; businesses such as hair, beauty and nail salons; gyms, pools, and leisure facilities; public buildings such as libraries can stay open OPEN although the advice is to keep social interactions to a minimum..

■ People in Tier Three should NOT travel into Tier Four areas. Across all tiers people should now "stay local".

■ People can not stay overnight somewhere outside of their local area unless needed for work, education or similar. Hotels and B&Bs must CLOSE with certain exemptions

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■ Pubs, cafes and restaurants must stay CLOSED except for takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.

■ Indoor entertainment venues, such as play parks, casinos, bingo halls, bowling alleys and cinemas, must stay CLOSED

■ You should work from home where possible

■ You should still wear a face covering

■ No spectators are allowed in grounds at elite sporting events

■ Up to 15 people can attend a wedding ceremony or civil partnership — but NO receptions are allowed

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■ Up to 30 people can attend someone’s funeral and up to 15 people can attend someone’s wake but this cannot be in someone's home

■ All pupils should continue to attend school and colleges, unless required to self-isolate

■ Outdoor tourism and entertainment venues can remain open

■ Recycling and waste centres, car parks, and public toilets may continue to stay open

Many of the restrictions have exemptions which can be found listed HEREPolice can take action against those not sticking to the rules with fines of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400. If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of over 30 people, the police can issue fines of £10,000.