Local Lockdown – Tier 3 Information

On Thursday 26 November 2020 the Government announced that Walsall will be placed under tier 3 lockdown restrictions when the national lockdown ends on Wednesday 2 December 2020. This will be reviewed on Wednesday 16 December 2020. 

I am disappointed that the Government have placed Walsall under the toughest level of restrictions after all our hard work to get infection rates down in the past few weeks. It is my view that any additional restrictions must come side by side with economic support. Christmas is vital for pubs, restaurants, entertainment venues. They need substantial financial support to get through this period. Decisions must be taken based on published scientific evidence and the government must be clear that they are doing enough to keep transmission down. 

Further information on the tier restrictions is available below. 

Tier 3

Areas:

Rules:

• You must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues

• You must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the ‘rule of 6’

• Hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.

• Accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training

• Indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close. (for a list check https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know)

• Leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should close

• There should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators

• Large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events

• Places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies

• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events

• Organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place

• Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s

• You can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible

• Avoid travelling to other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey

Tier 2

Areas:

Rules:

• You must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place

• You must not socialise in a group of more than 6 people outside, including in a garden or a public space – this is called the ‘rule of 6’

• Businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs

• Pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals

• Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:

• Provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol

• Close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)

• Stop taking orders after 10pm

• Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through

• Early closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm

• Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors

• Public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors

• Places of worship remain open but you must not socialise with people from outside of your household or support bubble while you are indoors there, unless a legal exemption applies

• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events such as wakes or stonesettings.

• Organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue

• Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing

• You can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible

• If you live in a tier 2 area, you must continue to follow tier 2 rules when you travel to a tier 1 area. Avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through a tier 3 area as a part of a longer journey

Tier 1

Areas:

Isle of Wight

Cornwall

Isles of Scilly

Rules:

• You must not socialise in groups larger than 6 people, indoors or outdoors, other than where a legal exemption applies.  This is called the ‘rule of 6’
• Businesses and venues can remain open, in a COVID securemanner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs
• Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
  • Provide table service only, for premises that serve alcohol
  • Close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, on transport services and in motorway service areas are exempt)
  • Stop taking orders after 10pm
• Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
• Early closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm
• Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 4,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
• Public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 4,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
• Places of worship remain open, but you must not attend or socialise in groups of more than 6 people while there, unless a legal exemption applies
• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events
• Organised outdoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes can continue
• Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes can continue to take place, if the rule of 6 is followed. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes, and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing
• If you live in a tier 1 area and travel to an area in a higher tier you should follow the rules for that area while you are there. Avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through a tier 3 area as part of a longer journey