Gloucestershire heads into tier two Covid-19 restrictions
The county's been placed on high-alert with the new rules coming into force on December 2
Last updated 26th Nov 2020
The Government has decided to place Gloucestershire in tier 2 restrictions which means the county will be on 'high-alert' under the new tiered system across the England.
The new restrictions will come into effect from December 2 when the country exits the second national lockdown next week.
Under the new rules you must adhere to the 'Rule of Six' indoors and outdoors.
Most business and hospitality venues can stay open, certain places like nightclubs have to stay closed though.
The curfew has been changed from 10pm to 11pm - last orders must be taken at 10pm though, which leaves an hour for everyone to finish eating and drinking.
People can start going to outdoor and indoor events again but capacity is limited. It's restricted to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 4,000 people outdoors or 1,000 indoors. Those same capacity restrictions apply to spectator sports.
Places of worship will be open but the 'Rule of Six' applies.
Weddings are back on but limited to 15 people, while funerals have a maximum capacity of 30.
Organised indoor sports and exercise classes can continue as long as the 'Rule of Six' is followed. Larger groups are allowed for supervised sports for under-18s.
People living in a tier one area who travel to a higher tier area are expected to follow the rules of that area while you're there - people are advised against overnight stays in tier three zones though.
In the seven days leading up to Wednesday 25th November there were 963 positive cases of coronavirus in the county at a rate of 151.2 per 100,000 people.
Leading the announcement in the House of Commons this afternoon (November 26) Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the restrictions will be reviewed on the December 16.
Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council said:
“We need to keep up the fight against Covid, for ourselves, for our families and for people across our county. The national restrictions have helped us to begin to turn the corner, but we need to do the rest.
"Please stick to the new rules and remember Hands, Face, Space. We can see vaccines are coming – we need to play our part to keep everyone safe until it can be rolled out.”
There are nearly 140 patients in Gloucestershire's hospitals fighting Covid-19 - up six from the week before.
The chief executive of the trust which runs the two main hospitals, Deborah Lee, said there were 138 people in beds with coronavirus during a Facebook Live webchat yesterday (November 25).
Sarah Scott, Director of Public Health for Gloucestershire said:
"These new restrictions, whilst not what we would have wanted, will help us to bring down the number of cases in the county and protect those most at risk.
"Whilst the number of cases reduced to around 960 last week and likely to fall again this week, this trend will not continue when restrictions are eased, if the guidance and new restrictions are not followed.
Giving his reaction to the announcement Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk said:
"I would have much preferred for Cheltenham to be in tier 1 but with an infection rate of around 150 per 100,000 people that was a bit of an ask.
"It's great news for spectators at our local sports clubs like Cheltenham Town and Gloucester Rugby albeit with restrictions.
"I'm very concerned of the impact on hospitality which has been very hard hit which is why it's important we re-visit the data every 14 days which I will be doing.
"I want us to get into tier one at the earliest possibility."