Which tier will Portsmouth and Hampshire be in? New Covid lockdown tiers announced by Boris Johnson

Different parts of the country will be split up into ‘medium’, ‘high’ or ‘very high’ alert areas under the new system, with each tier representing an advancing scale of local restrictions.

In a statement to the Commons this afternoon Boris Johnson said the number of cases across the UK had ‘quadrupled in the last three weeks’.

What does each level mean?

Level 1, or ‘medium’, is thought to represent the minimum, baseline restrictions similar to those already in place. This will include a 10pm hospitality curfew and a ban on most gatherings of more than six people. It is thought areas with fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people will be placed under level 1 restrictions.

Level 2, or ‘high’, restrictions could be triggered when a rise in transmission cannot be contained through local responses and will apply to areas with more than 100 cases per 100,000 of the population.

This could involve a ban on households meeting indoors or in private gardens, including meeting people you don’t live with in pubs, restaurants, or bars. It is thought those in a ‘bubble’ with another household would be immune from this restriction.

People may still be able to meet other households outdoors in public, but they would have to abide by social distancing rules and the ‘rule of six’.

Level 3, or ‘very high’ restrictions could involve the closure of most non-essential businesses, such as betting shops, gyms and pubs and bars. Schools and workplaces would also remain open.

SEE ALSO: The Portsmouth businesses which have closed since the pandemic began

What’s the situation like in Portsmouth and Hampshire?

There were 113 new cases in Portsmouth in the week ending October 8, meaning it had an infection rate of 61.9 per 100,000 people.

Because the infection rate is lower than 100 cases it is expected Portsmouth will therefore be included in Level 1, so will continue with the restrictions already in place.

This will also likely be the case for the rest of Hampshire.

The local authority with the highest infection rate in the county is currently Test Valley, with 73.7 per 100,000 people and 93 new cases.

Keep up to date with the latest coronavirus news in Portsmouth with our Coronavirus Updates Facebook group.

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