Coronavirus: Rules for Tier 2 Covid lockdown areas including Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, Basingstoke, Gosport, Havant, Fareham, Test Valley, Hart, Rushmoor and New Forest

The new coronavirus tiers come into force on Wednesday, including Portsmouth and Hampshire.
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Portsmouth and the rest of Hampshire – excluding Isle of Wight – will be in tier 2, ‘high’ alert.

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Here are the Covid tiers for where you live

This means that while non-essential shops and hospitality businesses will be able to reopen there will be slightly stricter rules in force than when the county was in tier 1 prior to the second lockdown.

What you can and can't do in coronavirus Tier 2 areas. Picture: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty ImagesWhat you can and can't do in coronavirus Tier 2 areas. Picture: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
What you can and can't do in coronavirus Tier 2 areas. Picture: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
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We have rounded up all you need to know about what you can and can’t do in tier 2 from Wednesday:

What are the same rules for all tiers?

Across all tiers, everyone:

- must wear a face covering in most indoor public settings, unless they have an exemption

- should follow the rules on meeting others safely

- should attend school or college as normal, unless they are self-isolating. Schools, universities, colleges and early years settings remain open in all tiers

- should walk or cycle where possible, plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes when travelling

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- must follow the gathering limits at their tier except for in specific settings and circumstances.

Visits to care homes can take place with arrangements such as substantial screens, visiting pods, and window visits.

Regular testing will be offered to up to 2 family members or friends per resident by Christmas.

Tier 2 rules

In tier 2:

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- you must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place

- you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 people outside, including in a garden or a public space – this is called the ‘rule of 6’

- businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs

- pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals

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- hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:

- provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol

- close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)

- stop taking orders after 10pm

- hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through

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- early closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm

- public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors – so fans can return to Fratton Park!

- public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors

- places of worship remain open but you must not socialise with people from outside of your household or support bubble while you are indoors there, unless a legal exemption applies

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- weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events such as wakes or stonesettings.

- organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue

- organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing

- you can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible

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- if you live in a tier 2 area, you must continue to follow tier 2 rules when you travel to a tier 1 area. Avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities.You can travel through a tier 3 area as a part of a longer journey

- for international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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