The latest tier restrictions were rolled out in England on Wednesday 2nd December, with the rules much tougher than when they were initially put in place. But did it actually work the first time around?
This tier system, which replaces the original one used from 14th October – 5th November before the second national lockdown, has been ramped up in order to control the number of coronavirus cases in England, which topped 1,674,134 in the UK on 3rd December, according to ONS data.
There are only three areas in Tier 1; the Isle of Wight, the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall.
In Tier 1 areas, the ‘rule of six’ still applies and you can meet others from your household both indoors and outdoors as long as social distancing is maintained. All shops and hospitality can be open but must provide table service, with last orders to be taken at 10pm and venues to close at 11pm. Care home visits are permitted and working from home is still advised.
People living in Tier 2 regions of England are allowed to meet six people from other households as long as it takes place outside. No mixing of different households is permitted indoors, including in hospitality venues and private homes. The 11pm curfew is still in place and all shops, gyms and beauty salons are allowed to open. Pubs and restaurants must serve a substantial meal with any alcohol being consumed.
Tier 3 has the toughest restrictions and is not dissimilar to the nationwide lockdown. You may meet six people from other households in outdoor public areas but not private gardens or homes. Shops are allowed to open, but hospitality venues must close unless providing a takeaway service.
“The next review is expected to take place on 16th December”
You can see the full list of restrictions for each tier here and find out what tier your area is in here.
Over the festive period these rules are being relaxed slightly, meaning three households can form an exclusive Christmas bubble from 23rd – 27th December, but the tier system will be in place and will be reviewed every two weeks.
The next review is expected to take place on 16th December and many places such as Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham are hoping to drop down to Tier 2.
A huge point of debate over these restrictions is the question of what exactly a “substantial meal” is. The Cambridge Dictionary describes substantial as “large in size, value, or importance”. The government website says it would be “a full breakfast, main lunchtime or evening meal.” But of course in terms of food, this can vary from person to person.
https://twitter.com/BtonGirlProbs/status/1332048149280673793
In October, a pizza restaurant called Common in Manchester was told that it couldn’t serve a slice of 22″ pizza as a substantial meal, but this was quickly revoked by Greater Manchester Police as they were unable to explain what exactly a substantial meal was.
Cabinet Minister George Eustice caused confusion earlier this week by saying that a scotch egg would “probably” count. He said to LBC Radio: “I think a Scotch egg probably would count as a substantial meal if there were table service. Often that might be as a starter, but yes I think it would.”
The problem with Gove’s “a scotch egg IS a substantial meal” is that I don’t see what is to stop enterprising pubs bringing drinkers a scotch egg with every drink all night. The law does not stipulate they actually have to be eaten. And at £1.85…
— Robert Peston (@Peston) December 1, 2020
In September, just over a month before the first set of tiers was introduced, Covid-19 cases in the UK were up by 59,800 people (4th – 10th September), according to the ONS.
In the week leading up to the tiers being implemented, 433,300 people tested positive for the virus (10th – 16th October) and there were another 819 deaths (12th – 19th October). There was still a rising number of cases despite the original tier system, with 654,000 people testing positive from 31st October – 6th November.
The government placed England into a four-week national lockdown. PM Boris Johnson said on 31st October: “When I told you two weeks ago that we were pursuing a local and a regional approach to tackling this virus, I believed then and I still believe passionately that it was the right thing to do. “Now is the time to take action because there is no alternative. From Thursday until the start of December, you must stay at home.”
“Starmer has been branded “Captain Hindsight” and “General Indecision” by the Prime Minister.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer criticised the government for not implementing a so-called circuit breaker three weeks earlier during the school’s half-term. He said: “That delay in introducing restrictions will come at an economic cost and a human cost.”
However, when it came to voting on the new tier restrictions on 2nd December Labour abstained, making it the first time that they have not backed the government since the beginning of the pandemic.
Starmer has been branded “Captain Hindsight” and “General Indecision” by the Prime Minister.
Coronavirus remains a serious threat to the public's health and that's why Labour accepts the need for continued restrictions.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 30, 2020
We will always act in the national interest, so we will not vote against these restrictions in Parliament tomorrow.
Following the national lockdown, the data does show some promise for cases decreasing, with 521,300 people testing positive between 22nd – 28th November, but it also sadly marked the week the the UK reached 60,000 deaths due to the virus.
It will be interesting to see how the new tier system works, especially with the relaxations over Christmas, and many are worried we are setting up for another lockdown in January.
Martha Wilson
Featured image courtesy of Kevin Grieve via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.