Explained: Tyne Tees' tiers
The entire North East region, including the Tees Valley, has been placed in the highest Tier of new Covid restrictions, with York and North Yorkshire following in Tier 3.
The government has announced the new rules will come into effect from 00:01 on Thursday 31st December 2020.
A full list of tiers in the Tyne Tees region:
North East - TIER 4 (STAY AT HOME)
Hartlepool
Middlesbrough
Stockton-on-Tees
Redcar and Cleveland
Darlington
Sunderland
South Tyneside
Gateshead
Newcastle upon Tyne
North Tyneside
County Durham
Northumberland
Yorkshire - TIER 3 (VERY HIGH)
York
North Yorkshire
Our correspondent Rachel Bullock explains the rules in Tier 3 and Tier 4:
Rules may be eased by April 'if tiers and vaccine drive down virus', PM says
Has my area moved to Tier 4? The full list of changes across England
Tier 1
Also referred to as the 'medium' risk category.
People can meet indoors and outdoors with other households as long as there is a maximum of six people.
People may also stay overnight in other households, as long as there are less than six people.
Pubs bars and restaurants can be open as long as they operate as table service only and stop taking orders at 10pm, with closing time at 11pm.
Tier 2
Also referred to as the 'high' risk category.
People from other households are not allowed to mix indoors, and must only meet up to six people outdoors.
Pubs and bars must close unless they serve 'substantial meals' and venues must stop taking orders by 10pm and close at 11pm.
Weddings are allowed to have 15 guests and 30 people are allowed at funerals.
Wedding receptions are allowed.
Cinemas and other forms of indoor entertainment are allowed to open.
Exercise classes can only happen indoors if there is no interaction between other households.
Organised sport can continue.
Places of worship are allowed to open by people must only interact with others from their household.
People should try and reduce the number of journeys they take and avoid travelling to Tier 3 areas.
Sports and live performances can operate if they allow social distancing and work at 50% capacity or 2,000 people when the venue is outdoors and 1,000 when the venue is indoors, whichever is less.
Tier 3
Also referred to as the 'very high' risk category.
People cannot mix indoors or in most outdoor situations with people outside of their household or support bubble.
In permitted outdoor areas like parks, they must only meet in groups of six people or less.
All pubs, bars and restaurants must close and can only operate as takeaways.
Gyms and other forms of indoor leisure are allowed to remain open but group activities must not happen.
The guidelines advise against any overnight stays, other than within a support bubble.
Exercise classes can happen outdoors but people should limit classes, they are banned inside.
Organised sport can continue.
Hotels will be told to close except for limited work reasons.
Weddings are allowed to have 15 guests and 30 people are allowed at funerals.
Wedding receptions are banned.
Indoor entertainment venues like cinemas must close.
Places of worship are allowed to open but people must only interact with others from their household.
People should make as few journeys as possible and should avoid leaving their area unless absolutely necessary.
Large events like live performances should not take place.
Tier 4
Now referred to as the 'stay at home' risk category.
People must not leave their home or garden unless they have a ‘reasonable excuse’ including where reasonably necessary for work, education, exercise or open air recreation and essential activities such as medical appointments and to buy food.
People must not meet socially indoors, in a private garden or most outdoor public venues with anybody they do not live with or have a support bubble with. Everyone who can work from home should do so.
People can see only one other person that they do not live with (or do not have a support bubble with) in certain public outdoor places - such as parks, public gardens, or outdoor sports facilities.
Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 6 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 6 people can attend linked commemorative events.
Accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, holiday lets and guest houses must close, other than where very limited exceptions apply.
Hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha bars), pubs, cafes, restaurants, and social clubs must close except for takeaway, delivery, drive-through and click and collect services. Takeaway must cease between 23:00 and 5:00, but delivery, drive-through and click-and-collect may continue during this period. This includes restaurants and bars within hotels or members’ clubs.
Indoor entertainment venues, such as casinos, bowling alleys, and bingo halls must close. Cinemas, theatres, and concert venues must also close.
Certain outdoor venues, such as botanical gardens, heritage sites, and zoos and other animal attractions may stay open, although indoor elements at these attractions must also close.
All indoor leisure and sports facilities must close except where a legal exemption exists, such as for the training of elite sportspersons.
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