Southport enters new tier 2 restrictions as national lockdown ends

Southport, Sefton and the entire Liverpool City Region have entered tier 2 coronavirus restrictions this morning after a month-long national lockdown officially ended.

Non-essential businesses around town will open today for the first time since being ordered to close during November.

Tier 2 means that the region is still classed as having a “High” risk of coronavirus transmission as opposed to tier 1 (medium) and tier 3 (very high).

Under tier 2:

• You can not socialise inside with anyone you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble
• You can meet in a group of up to six outside
• Pubs and bars can open if they serve meals. Alcohol can be served with that meal
• Pubs and restaurants must shut at 23:00 GMT, with last orders at 22:00 GMT
• Non essential shops, gyms and personal care services may reopen
• Sports can resume with up to 2,000 spectators, or 50% capacity (whichever is smaller)
• Collective worship, weddings and outdoor sports can resume
• Non-essential foreign travel permitted
• Residents are advised not to travel to and from tier 3 areas
• Overnight stays are permitted, with household or support bubble only
• You should continue to work from home if it is possible to do so
• All education providers in the region are permitted to operate as normal (with measures to reduce the spread of infection
• External childcare is permitted
• Exercise classes and organised adult sport can take place outdoors, but not indoors between people from different households. Organised activities for elite athletes, under-18s and disabled people can continue

To decide the tiers, the Government asses coronavirus cases across all age groups and specifically among the over-60s, who are considered most at risk.

It is also assessed whether infection rates are rising or falling in a given area and the positivity rate – meaning the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken.

Load on the NHS is also taken into account, including both current and projected occupancy.

How long will the new restrictions last?

Tiers will be reviewed by the Government on Wednesday 16 December, meaning Sefton Council will have two weeks to reduce infections and make a case for being moved down.

Boris Johnson has said that the system will be in place until the Spring – however, there will be a five-day break from 23-27 December, which will allow up to three households to congregate for Christmas.