The government have announced a new system of measures to combat Covid, today, Thursday.

Health secretary Matt Hancock has revealed details in a speech to the House of Commons about what will happen after lockdown ends next Wednesday, December 2.

The government has announced three tiers of Covid restrictions across local authority areas in England - with the news that Hitchin - and the whole of Hertfordshire - will be in Tier 2

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

Hitchin has been classified as Tier 2.

Under the system there will be three tiers of alert:

Tier 1 - Medium alert level. It will feature current rules such as the rule of six and 10pm closing time for pub

Tier 2 - High alert level - People will not be able to mix with other households indoors

Tier 3 - Very high alert level - Household mixing banned. All pubs and bars will be closed

...............

...............

Hitchin has been graded as Tier 2 - All you need to know

..............

..............

What do Tier 2 lockdown rules mean?

This means those in a Tier 2 area must abide by the "Rule of Six". In other words no mixing of households indoors apart from support bubbles

Last orders at 10pm, close by 11pm

Reduce the numbers of journeys made and avoid travel into Tier 3 areas

Overnight stays permitted with your household or support bubble

Accommodation open

Places of worship open but people cannot interact with anyone outside their household or support bubble

Weddings, civil partnerships and wakes can have 15 guests

Funerals can have 30 guests

Exercise classes and organised adult sport can take place outdoors, but not indoors if there is any interaction between different households

Elite sporting events, live performances and large business events can take place with 50% capacity, or 2,000 people outdoors/1,000 indoors (whichever is lower) - social distancing applies

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.

The plan

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

Places of worship remain open, but you must not attend or socialise in groups of more than six 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

Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to 2,000 people outdoors

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 three households to mix for five days over Christmas, between December 23 and 27 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 hoping that 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.

Keep reading Hitchin Nub News for all the latest news on the Covid crisis.

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE TO KEEP UP TO DATE