What are the new Covid-19 tiers in place across the Midlands?
Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and Coventry will all be placed in Tier 3 - the very high Covid alert category when the lockdown ends on December 2, the government has confirmed.
The rules under each tier get stricter as they go up from 1 to 3, with the measures designed to keep down the local area's Covid-19 infection rate.
Every area in the country will fall into one of the three tiers after the current national lockdown ends on December 2, with different levels of restrictions on everyday life to try to limit spread of Covid-19.
Which tier am I in from December 2nd?
Tier 2
Worcestershire
Herefordshire
Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin
Rutland
Northamptonshire
Tier 3
Birmingham and the Black Country
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Warwickshire
Coventry
Solihull
Leicester and Leicestershire
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
Derby and Derbyshire
Lincolnshire
This postcode checker on the Government website is for people to check their tier
What can you do in each tier from December 2?
Tier 1: Up to six people can meet indoors or outdoors. Pubs and restaurants can open, with last orders at 10pm and closing at 11pm.
Tier 2: No mixing indoors, apart from support bubbles. Up to six people can meet outdoors. Pubs and restaurants can open, with last orders at 10pm and closing at 11pm - but alcohol can only be served with a substantial meal.
Tier 3: No mixing indoors, apart from support bubbles. People can only meet outdoors in limited places such as parks and public gardens. Pubs and restaurants must close, with the exception of takeaway sales.
But, there are a few blanket rules which will be in place across all of England, regardless of which tier you fall into.
The rule of six
Gatherings of more than six people are banned across the country - for those in Tier 2 and Tier 3, people can only meet outdoors.
Personal care
Shops, hairdressers, gyms and other forms of personal care are allowed to remain open in all tiers, although some extra rules will be in place for higher tiers.
Work
Everyone will be advised to work from home if they can, up until the start of April next year.
What have health experts said?
A virologist from the University of Leicester has said the government are trying to "buy some credit" by introducing stricter Covid measures.
Dr Julian Tang told ITV News: "I think they're trying to suppress the virus as much as they can before the five days of freedom amnesty during Christmas and New Years."
"We will see a surge after Christmas and New Year, I think that's inevitable," he added.
How have local MPs and council leaders reacted to the new restrictions?
Birmingham
Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward said: "We need a clear roadmap out of these restrictions and a meaningful package of support for jobs and businesses, especially in the hospitality sector, so we can focus on what needs to be done to keep people safe – and ensure our economy continues to function in an effective way."
He added: "The crisis faced by hospitality businesses across Birmingham is of particular concern from an economic perspective - a crisis that would have been exacerbated whether our city was placed in Tier 2 or 3."
"Many businesses in this previously thriving sector are warning they may not survive the coming months if they are dealt the double blow of more restrictions and inadequate financial support."
Nottingham
Following the new tier announcement, Labour MP for Nottingham South, Lilian Greenwood said: "The decision to put Nottingham & Notts into tier 3 was made by the Government.
"Ministers must explain the reasons and what we need to achieve to get out of tier 3 when it's reviewed."
Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen said the Tier 3 restrictions in the city were a "bitter blow".
He said: "It’s a bitter blow for people in Nottingham who have done the right thing, followed the rules and done an incredible job of driving down the rate of Covid infections from the highest in the country to below the national average.
"We had hoped that this would have meant we would be spared going into Tier 3 and the extra restrictions that come with that being imposed on local people and struggling local businesses.
"We will need Government to provide further support for businesses – especially hospitality where they will be particularly badly hit – to see them through this, as the amounts offered so far won’t be enough."
Leicester
In a joint statement reacting to the city of Leicester being placed under Tier 3 restrictions, Labour MPs Liz Kendall, Jonathan Ashworth and Claudia Webbe said: "This has already been an unbelievably tough year, and the news that Leicester will go into Tier 3 – on top of the 150 days of our extra lockdown – is extremely difficult to hear.
"The Government must now spell out how we can get out of Tier 3, and the measures they will use to review Leicester’s position, to give people hope their sacrifices will make a difference.
"Local businesses need proper support, especially our pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants who will be devastated by the news they are in Tier 3 in this crucial period in the run-up to Christmas."
The statement continued: "Ministers also need to fix test, trace and isolate and give our local council the resources it needs to properly support local people.
"We know how exhausted and frustrated everyone feels and the huge strain this lockdown has caused.
"News of a vaccine provides us with light at the end of the tunnel, but the Government must now act on the concerns we have repeatedly raised and give people in Leicester the help and support they deserve."
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire County Council’s leader has described the county being placed under Tier 3 restrictions as "disappointing" and said "it doesn’t make sense".
Cllr Martin Hill said: "It’s very disappointing that the whole of Lincolnshire has gone into Tier 3 as we are seeing infection rates fall, especially in those few districts that were previously causing concern – and this could have a crippling effect on our hospitality sector."
Solihull
Conservative borough council leader Ian Courts said he is "bitterly disappointed" by the new measures.
He said: "Many will be disheartened by today’s news Solihull has been placed in Tier 3, along with the West Midlands and Warwickshire from December 2, following the end of the national lockdown."
Mr Courts added: "I’ve fought long and hard to make the case for Solihull to be in Tier 2, at the most.
"But the various measures and data used to determine these tier levels are against us."
He added the Government’s decision to have Solihull "grouped" with Coventry and Warwickshire, rather than Birmingham, could however provide a route "to a more rapid sub-regional exit from Tier 3".
How have the new tiers been decided?
- Case detection rate (in all age groups and, in particular, among the over 60s)
- How quickly Covid-19 case rates are rising or falling
- Positivity in the general population
- Pressure on the NHS – including the current and projected (3-4 weeks out) NHS capacity
- Local context and exceptional circumstances such as a local but contained outbreak.
How long will the rules last?
The restrictions are expected to last until the Spring, however the first review of the guidelines will be by Wednesday 16 December.