MALDON district will be under Tier 2 'High' level restrictions from midnight tomorrow (Friday, 16 October) after Essex County Council's request was granted by the Government.

The announcement was made by Health Secretary Matt Hancock in Parliament today following the request by the county council on Tuesday.

Mr Hancock said: "We must act to prevent more hospitalisation, more deaths and more economic damage.

"When a virus is moving fast we cannot stay still.

"We must take firm and balanced decisions to keep this virus under control.

"Local action is one of the best methods we have."

The news comes after it was revealed yesterday that Maldon district has moved to a Covid-19 current infection rate of 49.3 confirmed cases per 100,000 population.

Tier 2 is the middle tier of the three levels - and means that people in separate households or from different 'bubbles' cannot meet indoors. This includes homes, restaurants, pubs, gyms and shops, etc.

Other restrictions such as 'the rule of six' - where no more than six people can meet up either indoors or outdoors - remain, though of course any six people meeting indoors now would be banned under the Tier 2 rules.

Pubs, restaurants and all retail will remain open, as will gyms, hairdressers, nail bars and beauty salons.

London boroughs will also move to Tier 2 restrictions from midnight tomorrow. The new restrictions are currently not applicable in Southend and Thurrock, as they are unitary authorities and so not within the Essex County Council area.

Maldon District Council is providing a section offering clear guidance on the rules for each tier on its website here.