The Harrogate district’s hopes of remaining in tier one at the end of the national lockdown seem to be fading away.
Local public health officials, who manage the coronavirus response in North Yorkshire, have been speculating ahead of an announcement tomorrow.
In a weekly coronavirus press briefing this morning, those officials said coronavirus rates can give you a feel for what tiers different areas will be in.
The average case rates in North Yorkshire is 195 per 100,000. England’s average case rates are currently 207 per 100,000.
Areas like Scarborough and Selby are the only areas above the national average at 296 and 240 per 100,000 respectively.
The Harrogate district has seen a drop in case rates in recent weeks. It now has the second lowest rates in North Yorkshire at 157 just above Ryedale at 131.
What tier restrictions will we be under?
The national lockdown ends next week on Wednesday, December 2. When the lockdown ends we will return to restrictions based on three tiers.
North Yorkshire was in tier one before the national lockdown. The government will confirm tomorrow which tiers each area will be under.
Read more:
- Tier one ‘did not work’, says North Yorkshire public health boss
- Coronavirus clinic to open at Harrogate community centre
However, local public health officials also said today that they would favour a system where North Yorkshire is split into different districts.
Richard Webb, the corporate director of health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council, said:
“We don’t have those details on tier restrictions yet. All we have at the moment are the speculation and the drafts we had before lockdown.
“If we look to the criteria that will potentially be in place we hope that most of the county would be in tier two. But we know that some areas could be in tier three.”
What are the three different tiers?
The government has strengthened the tiers. They still range from tier one at medium through tier two at high and tier three at very high.
Tier one:
- Max of six can meet indoors and outdoors
- Hospitality venues must be table service only, must stop taking orders at 10pm and close by 11pm
- Retail, entertainment, accomodation, schools, indoor leisure and personal care are all open
- Can travel but avoid tier three areas except where necessary
- Overnight stays are permitted with support bubble or up to six people
- Work from home where possible
- Places of worship open but do not interact with more than six people
- Up to 15 guests for weddings and up to 30 for funerals
- Exercise classes and organised sport can take place but must follow rule of six indoors
- Large events can go ahead with 1,000 capacity indoors and 4,000 outdoors
Tier two:
- No mixing of households indoors apart from support bubbles with a max of six meeting outdoors
- Hospitality venues must close unless operating as restaurants. Can only serve alcohol with a substantial meal
- Retail, entertainment, accomodation, schools, indoor leisure and personal care are all open
- Can travel but avoid tier three areas except where necessary
- Overnight stays are permitted with support bubble only
- Work from home where possible
- Places of worship open but do not interact with anyone outside household or support bubble
- Up to 15 guests for weddings and up to 30 for funerals
- Exercise classes and organised sport can take place outdoors. Cannot take place indoors if there is any contact between people from different households
- Large events can go ahead with 1,000 capacity indoors and 2,000 outdoors
Tier three:
- No mixing of households indoors or most outdoor places apart from support bubbles with a max of six meeting in some outdoor places
- Hospitality is closed except for takeaway
- Retail, schools, indoor leisure and personal care are all open
- Indoor enterntainment is closed
- Avoid travelling out of the area unless necessary
- No overnight stays outside of area unless necessary
- Work from home where possible
- Places of worship open but do not interact with anyone outside household or support bubble
- Exercise classes and organised sport can take place outdoors but avoid higher-rish contact sports. Indoor sports should not take place outside of household or support bubble
- Events cannot take place unless it is a drive-in
What about Christmas?
Coronavirus restrictions will be eased across the UK between December 23 and December 27 to allow for a Christmas closer to normal.
It will mean that three households will be able to form a temporary bubble. It must be fixed but there will be no limit on numbers joining bubble.
Those who are self-isolating should not join one of these so-called Christmas bubbles.
If someone is in an at-risk group the government has said they must their their own judgement and consider the risks of mixing over Christmas.
