Can you travel to Cornwall to go to the pub? Officials issue advice
Thousands of people cross the Cornwall and Devon border each day for work, school and leisure
Advice has been issued for people who frequently travel over the Cornwall and Devon border, as the Duchy goes into Tier 1 of coronavirus restrictions.
Officials are clarifying the rules around travelling between tiers to help keep everyone safe and prevent the spread of Covid-19.
With many residents who travel between Devon, Cornwall and Plymouth on a daily basis for work, the school run, or for leisure, Cornwall Council says it is important for everyone to understand how the tier system works.
As of Wednesday, the region’s counties are now in one of three tiers, with Tier 1 being classed as ‘medium alert’ and 3 classed as ‘very high alert’.
Cornwall is the only area to fall into Tier 1 (alongside the Isles of Scilly) with the rest of the region classed as either Tier 2 or Tier 3.
In brief, the rules for each tier are as follows:
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: Up to six people can meet outdoors but no mixing indoors, apart from support bubbles. 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. People can only meet outdoors in limited places such as parks and public gardens. Pubs and restaurants must close unless they are offering takeaways.
Can you travel to Cornwall to go to the pub?
The announcement that Cornwall is the only area where people can visit pubs for drinks alone has led many to question what happens when people cross from a Tier 2 county, such as Devon, in search of a pint or two.
The government has already warned people not travel to the Duchy to visit its pubs, but the reality is that thousands of residents in the south west will move between different tiers as they go about their everyday lives for work, leisure and the school run – and is vital that everyone follows the rules to keep cases low and reduce community transmission regardless of where they live.
Put simply, the rules follow you down the tiers but not up.
So if you live in Tier 2 and travel to Tier 1, you must stick to Tier 2 rules.
But if you live in Tier 1 and travel to Tier 2 you must follow Tier 2 rules.
Those living in Tier 3 should avoid travel altogether unless the journey is essential.
“We know the lockdown has been tough on both residents and businesses and we want to keep the new rules as simple as possible for anyone who lives and works on a border between two different tiers in the South West.
“Our message is that wherever you live it’s important to play your part by following the rules. All we ask is that anyone coming over from Tier 2 must remember that the Tier 1 rules do not apply to them and they must follow their own tier’s rules.”
Cornwall Council’s Leader, Julian German
“We’d also urge people to remember the basic guidelines too – wear a face covering when required, wash your hands regularly, keep two metres away from people where possible and follow the ‘rule of six’.
“The guidance is there to ensure the virus is not given the opportunity to spread further. Only by respecting the rules and each other can we keep Covid-19 at bay and look forward to a time when we can all enjoy socialising more freely.”
Rachel Wigglesworth, Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly