East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire in tier 3 restrictions

The tier restrictions will come into effect from the beginning of Wednesday, 2nd December (00.01). Until then, the national restrictions will remain in place. The Government has said it will review tier allocations by 16th December.

Here are the measures you will have to abide by in these areas:

Tier 3

• Groups of six will only be able to meet in outdoor public spaces, such as parks and sports courts - but not in private gardens

• Hospitality will be closed except for takeaway in these areas

• Indoor entertainment venues - such as cinemas, theatres, bowling alleys and casinos - will remain closed

• People will be told to avoid travelling out of the area other than where necessary and to reduce the number of journeys

• No overnight stays will be permitted outside the local area, except for work or education, with accommodation to stay closed

• Weddings and civil partnerships can resume but with only 15 guests, increasing to 30 for funerals. Wedding receptions are banned in Tier 3

• Places of worship can reopen, but people must not interact with anyone outside their household or support bubble

• Classes and organised adult sport can take place outdoors, but people are advised to avoid higher-risk contact activity

• Elite and live sport will still be banned but drive-in events will be permitted

The reasons behind the government's decision:

"The picture in Humber is improving with case rates now falling in 3 of the 4 lower tier local authorities. However, case rates in all ages and in over 60s remain very high (431/100,000 and 344/100,000 respectively). Positivity is 12.6%. There is ongoing pressure on the local NHS."

"There has been an overall improvement, but case rates remain high throughout the county, at 307 per 100,000 and in the over 60s it is 281 per 100,000. NHS pressures in Lincolnshire remain high and show signs of increasing, particularly for the units treating the more serious cases."

🔊 LISTEN: The owner of the Three Bs Micropub in Brildington says he's shocked that the town falls into the highest tier:

HULL COUNCIL REACTION

Councillor Stephen Brady, Leader of Hull City Council, warned that, while mixing of households over the festive period may be permitted under government proposals, people’s primary concern should still be on their safety and that of their family, friends and colleagues:

“Tier 3 is not where anyone wants to be but, with our infection rates still very high, it is what we expected and it’s the right place for Hull to be at this time.

“I want to thank all of our residents and businesses for the efforts they are making to follow the national restrictions. They are making a difference; our rates are falling every day and didn’t reach the peak we feared at one point. Although we are entering Tier 3 on December, we have shown that, by following the advice, we can bring our infection rates down.

“I understand that everyone is tired of restrictions and changing advice. This is a very difficult time and we would all like it to be over. What the last few weeks have shown is that, if we can continue to do all we can to minimise spreading the virus, we can continue to bring the rate down and, hopefully, move towards an easing of restrictions.

“Rather than asking how much we’re allowed to do under the restrictions, we should ask what carries the least risk – what is the safest amount to do.

“As we approach Christmas and New Year, we all need to consider how to celebrate safely. The government has announced its plans to some ease some restrictions, and allow families to meet on a limited basis, between December 23 and 27, but the virus will not be taking a day off. Even if we are permitted to do something, we must ask ourselves: ‘is it worth the risk?’. Of course, many local people have already had to stay apart for traditionally big family celebrations – Diwali fell right in the middle of these national restrictions.

“I understand how hard this is but, unless it is really necessary, and you can do it safely, we all need to think about whether it is better to protect each other for now and enjoy meeting up when we can do it more safely”.

EAST RIDING COUNCIL REACTION

Councillor Richard Burton, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said the authority would continue to do everything it can to keep supporting local people and businesses through the pandemic:

"This has been such a long battle against COVID-19 since March and we have seen a number of different phases of restrictions on our daily lives but I’m confident the people of the East Riding will again respond with the right attitude and a determination to do the right thing.

“The vast majority of our residents and businesses have been fantastic in their efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 and in supporting each other through this pandemic. We’re asking you now to keep responding positively as we move into this new phase and to do what is being asked of you so that we can return to some kind of normality as soon as possible and as safely as possible.

“We know some residents, along with business owners, managers and workers, will be frustrated with this news and we know there will be understandable concern about the situation but we will continue to do all we can to protect and support our most vulnerable residents, to suppress the spread of this virus and to save lives.

“While dealing with the huge challenges COVID-19 presents, we will also do our utmost to continue to provide essential services to our local communities and we’re again asking you to keep demonstrating that brilliant #TogetherEastRiding public spirit to get through this.”

Councillor Burton said the council would keep helping residents and businesses with a range of support and advice, from financial aid to health and wellbeing services.