Covid-19 the second wave.

[Chippy_Tea]

A new, tougher fourth tier of coronavirus restrictions for London and much of south-east England has been announced. It starts at 00:01 GMT on Sunday.
The whole of Wales is entering another lockdown from 00:01 on Sunday. And the whole of mainland Scotland will begin a new lockdown from 00:01 on Saturday 26 December.

What are the new rules for Christmas?
The planned relaxation of coronavirus rules at Christmas has been scrapped for tier four areas. People will only be allowed to celebrate Christmas with members of their own household and support bubbles.
Elsewhere in England - across tiers one to three - the plan to allow "Christmas bubbles" from 23 to 27 December is being changed to Christmas Day only.
There will also be a travel ban between England and Scotland throughout the Christmas period.

What are the Covid restrictions in England?
All areas of England have been placed in one of four tiers, depending on factors such as how fast Covid is spreading and pressure on hospitals.
People in tiers one to three are advised not to travel into the new tier four areas.
And across all tiers the government has announced that people should now "stay local".

Which parts of south-east England have changed to tier four?
From 00:01 on Sunday 20 December, all current tier three areas across the south and east of England will move into tier four restrictions.
The areas affected are:

• Greater London (all 32 boroughs and the City of London)
• Kent
• Buckinghamshire (including Milton Keynes)
• Berkshire
• Surrey (excluding Waverley)
• Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth
• Rother and Hastings
• Bedfordshire
• Hertfordshire
• Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring)
• Peterborough

What are the new restrictions in tier four?
The restrictions are similar to the last national lockdown in England, in November. They include:

• Residents being asked to stay at home - although those who have to travel for education or work may continue to do so
• Social mixing will be restricted to meeting one other person from outside your household or support bubble in an open public space
• All non-essential retail will have to close, along with hairdressers, nail bars, and indoor entertainment venues
• Gyms and indoor swimming pools must close but outdoor pools, sports courts and golf courses can stay open
• Support bubbles remain unaffected, as do the exemptions for separated parents and their children
• No-one in tier four will be allowed to join Christmas Day bubbles in tiers one to three
• People in tier four areas should not travel abroad, except in limited circumstances (including work and education)
• Communal religious worship will still be allowed

The measures will be formally reviewed on 30 December.

Full article including Scotland and Wales tiers here - Covid: What are the new tiers and lockdown rules in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Tier 3 -

• You can't mix indoors, in private gardens or in most outdoor venues, except with your household or bubble
• You can meet in a group of up to six in other outdoor spaces, such as parks, beaches or countryside
• Shops, gyms and personal care services (such as hairdressing) can stay open, as can swimming pools
• Bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants must stay closed, except for delivery and takeaway
• Collective worship can take place with no mixing outside of bubbles
• Small wedding ceremonies can take place, but not receptions
• Sports fans cannot attend events in stadiums
• Indoor entertainment venues - such as bowling alleys and cinemas - must stay closed
• People are advised not to travel to and from tier three areas
• Christmas Day bubbles cannot include anyone in tier four

Tier 2 -

• You can't mix indoors with anyone apart from members of your household or bubble
• You can meet in a group of up to six outside - including in a private garden, or a public place
• Shops, gyms and personal care services (such as hairdressing) can open
• Pubs and bars can only open if they serve substantial meals. Alcohol can be served with that meal
• Pubs and restaurants must shut at 23:00 GMT, with last orders at 22:00
• Sports events in stadiums can be attended by up to 2,000 spectators, or 50% capacity (whichever is smaller)
• Collective worship, weddings and outdoor sports can take place (with restrictions)
• Non-essential foreign travel is allowed, subject to quarantine rules
• People are advised not to travel to and from tier three areas
• Christmas Day bubbles cannot include anyone in tier four

Tier 1 -

• The rule of six will apply indoors and outdoors
• Spectator sports can resume with a crowd of 50% of capacity, or 4,000 spectators, whichever is smaller
• Only the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and Herefordshire are currently in tier one
• Christmas Day bubbles cannot include anyone in tier four

There are exceptions in all tiers for childcare and support bubbles. More details are here.

 

[VW911]

Have to pick up the turkey on Christmas eve from farm shop ten mins away, had to check we're in same county as we're in border country here !

Good luck, but the virus knows no boundaries...
Said to the wife earlier "Now, are you glad that we left Kent?" (I still miss it!)
Got a resounding YES!!!

 

[trueblue]

 

[Drunkula]

Communal religious worship will still be allowed

Wow.
Hello here's your covid wafer... it will help you meet your maker.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Quiet Christmas here and i agree with your thoughts on the selfish its one day/week of the year lets all get the vaccine (well those that can and want it) and lets have a massive Christmas next year.

I’m in tier 4. Only 371 sleeps until Christmas for me!

 

[Appleyard]

Broke my heart watching the announcement earlier.
My mum (sadly, single now, in her 80's,) is going to be all alone now as she's in Kent.
Spoke to her just after the news, and she's putting on a brave face, but I know that she's devastated by the news.
One half of me wants to race up there on my bike (not many could keep up, let alone stop me!), the other (sensible) half says stay at home, and be really sad thinking about her.
Fully understand the reasoning behind it, but it's going to be a pretty ***** Christmas...

My poor old mum's stuck in a nursing home. It's bad enough at the best of times (although the CQC call it "good", it's no such thing). Before she had to go there, I never knew such "places" existed. "Good", my HARRIS. Thank God that last year I purchased an package, an Android tablet with a bespoke system of apps including a "needs no user interaction" video call system. There are lots of suffering people there who haven't even got that. I feel so sorry for them all.

Phone her up and give her the news of what you're doing. Yes, she'll feel left out, but will be happy to hear about it. Mention the upcoming vaccine (fingers crossed). Order her something nice to nibble or sip, with next-day delivery. There's little else that can be done. Ubggre ti.

 

[John Galt]

Didn’t see that coming eh. Cant believe sturgeon closed the border and also no return to schools after Xmas. Really didn’t see this round the corner... It seems like we gain ground ie the lower rates in summer and then a vaccine- just when your feeling like there is light at the end of the tunnel- bam! Slapped right back down again.

I have a feeling that they know more about this strain than they are letting on though, my hunch would say it’s effecting kids much more and maybe that’s why they have closed schools. Hopefully my hunch is totally wrong and they are just being extra cautious. Merry Xmas everyone.

 

[Appleyard]

I wish people would keep to the rules, and not fail to know and understand them, or - worse - ignore them or - even worse - try to work around them.

 

[Keith 66]

My wife is an environmental health officer, fortunately most of her work is from home, It is clear that widespread ignororing the rules has been going on for some time so its no surprise to us.
Also there was a report from the BMA publication the Lancet yesterday stating that one of the prime transmission places are schools. No **** sherlock, kids are crammed in & simply cant keep apart even if they wanted to. But their education must come first, This leaves anyone working in a school, teachers, support staff, premises, cleaners as vulnerable, In truth they are all expendable.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

This leaves anyone working in a school, teachers, support staff, premises, cleaners as vulnerable, In truth they are all expendable.

As are all the Parents these children then come home to every evening!
I’m not far off the most vulnerable age group and suffer from asthma. the company I work for are committed to keep me safe by allowing me to work from home and yet I am still at risk because my Daughter needs to attend a COVID ridden school in an attempt to pass her A levels!

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

To everyone in London and the South East, Happy New Tier

 

[Leon103]

Didn’t see that coming eh. Cant believe sturgeon closed the border and also no return to schools after Xmas. Really didn’t see this round the corner... It seems like we gain ground ie the lower rates in summer and then a vaccine- just when your feeling like there is light at the end of the tunnel- bam! Slapped right back down again.

I have a feeling that they know more about this strain than they are letting on though, my hunch would say it’s effecting kids much more and maybe that’s why they have closed schools. Hopefully my hunch is totally wrong and they are just being extra cautious. Merry Xmas everyone.

But they haven't shut schools across the UK so doubtful.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

On our estate there are at least 6 households that have tested positive with Covid. All are teachers

 

[Rodcx500z]

Says it all really Crowds flee the capital after tough Tier 4 restrictions announced in London (msn.com)

 

[Appleyard]

Says it all really Crowds flee the capital after tough Tier 4 restrictions announced in London (msn.com)

If these people are not merely going home, to stay, they are stupid and heed;ess. How did this virus spread around the globe in the first place? Yes, through travel!

 

[jof]

If these people are not merely going home, to stay, they are stupid and heed;ess. How did this virus spread around the globe in the first place? Yes, through travel!

I can no longer blame people for doing this given the goverments shambollic handling of the whole situation.

Yes, its morally wrong, but look at the example people have been set by our leaders.

 

[Appleyard]

I can no longer blame people for doing this given the goverments shambollic handling of the whole situation.

Yes, its morally wrong, but look at the example people have been set by our leaders.

I can, people have their own brains, and should be using them, not spreading the virus around, helping to kill and maim others, and continuing the destruction of our economy. I do not think it is right that just because a few prominent figures have broken rules that others think it is acceptable to do so. It isn't.

 

[jof]

I can, people have their own brains, and should be using them, not spreading the virus around, helping to kill and maim others, and continuing the destruction of our economy. I do not think it is right that just because a few prominent figures have broken rules that others think it is acceptable to do so. It isn't.

i didn't say it was right, only that I cannot blame them.
They see it as the goverment had promissed they could visit people over christmas.
If the goverment took a more cautious line after the 2nd lock down in the first place, saying everyone has to stay in place, then if rates were sufficently low, they could have rewarded us with limited travel at christmas.
Instead everyone went mental as soon as restrictions were lifted didn't they.

 

[Rodcx500z]

Boris got it wrong yesterday, he should have imposed tier 4 there and then but know thats to authoratairian so he compromised and gave people time to travel hence they still have a little Christmas last word from me on this

 

[Appleyard]

i didn't say it was right, only that I cannot blame them.
They see it as the goverment had promissed they could visit people over christmas.
If the goverment took a more cautious line after the 2nd lock down in the first place, saying everyone has to stay in place, then if rates were sufficently low, they could have rewarded us with limited travel at christmas.
Instead everyone went mental as soon as restrictions were lifted didn't they.

That's the big problem. My wretched relative, for instance, last night on the 'phone: "I'm going on a present run on Christmas Eve, into the T4 areas where you and others are, and then I'm going to visit my old friend who's 92, in a T4 area, then I'm going home to my T2 area, and (her husband) is going to visit his son and family also in a T4 area, then see some friends before coming back to our T2 area". Flaming Hector Maclaren Maclain! She also said in defence that "Lots of other people are doing it", as if that makes it OK. It's not OK.