The Prime Minister is expected to announce new Covid guidelines today, Monday.

PM Boris Johnson is set to reveal details on what will happen after lockdown ends on Wednesday, 2 December.

Hertfordshire had been in the lowest band prior to the second lockdown of 2020 being imposed in early November.

In a bid to 'simplify' coronavirus regulations, the government will introduce a 'Local Covid Alert Level' system across England - intended to act as a traffic light system.

Under the system there will be three tiers - medium, high and very high.

In areas with high levels of infections, the government could prevent pubs, gyms and casinos opening to halt infections rising once again.

PM Johnson insisted the new alert levels were being introduced to 'squash this virus wherever it appears'.

However, Hitchin, north Herts and Hertfordshire are set to be graded as medium risk areas.

All you need to know

What are medium level/Tier 1 lockdown rules?

The medium level covers most of the country and consists of the current national measures - including Hitchin, north Herts and Hertfordshire.

This means those in a Tier 1 area must abide by the "Rule of Six" and the closure of venues at 10pm.

All businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a Covid-secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law, such as nightclubs and adult entertainment venues.

Businesses selling food or drink on their premises are required to close between 10pm and 5am.

Businesses and venues selling food 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-thru.

Schools, universities and places of worship remain open.

Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees.

Organised indoor sport and exercise classes can continue to take place, provided the Rule of Six is followed.

The ban on outdoor grassroots sport is also set to be lifted.

People must not meet in groups larger than six, indoors or outdoors.

The plan

The PM will brief the nation this afternoon (Monday, 23 November) with Hitchin, north Herts and the rest of our county expected to be placed in the lowest tier.

What will this mean for Christmas?

The government has said the UK's four nations had backed plans to allow some household mixing 'for a small number of days' over Christmas.

In effect this means that ministers have agreed a UK-wide plan to allow up to four households to mix for five days over Christmas, between 24 and 28 December.

However, on the resumption it is expected the government will then assess areas - with changes in the levels of restrictions imposed in each tier.

The PM is also expected to announce mass testing will be introduced in all tier three areas - with rapid testing with military support forming part of the stricter system.

Testing will also be rolled out for care home visitors across England from December - with every care home resident able to have two visitors tested twice a week.

This means that, after long last, those who live in care homes will finally be able to hug relatives.

More areas are set to be placed in the higher tiers - high risk or very high risk - after lockdown, No 10 has said.

Hitchin Nub News will keep you updated and informed as the situation develops.

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