The Prime Minister has made a statement in the House of Commons to provide an update on measures designed to restrict the spread of COVID-19 in England. The key announcements include:
- A local, three-tiered system of COVID alert levels set at medium, high and very high.
- Medium – the existing national measures including ‘rule of six’ and 10.00pm curfews on hospitality venues will remain.
- High – in these areas, all mixing between households indoors will be restricted. The ‘rule of six’ will continue outdoors. Most areas which are already under some form of local restriction will be classed as ‘high’.
- Very high – this level will apply where transmission rates are rising most rapidly. The Government will set a baseline for prohibiting all social mixing indoors and outdoors. It will also instruct hospitality settings to close. Retail settings, schools and universities will stay open.
The Prime Minister said that the Government is engaging with local leaders to finalise and establish specific measures in different areas. He said that regulations will be laid in Parliament today, debated tomorrow, and will come into force on Wednesday.