MALDON is set to find out which tier of the Government's pandemic restrictions it will be placed in this morning (Thursday, 26 November).

It is now expected that the announcement will be made by Health Secretary Matt Hancock in Parliament at 11.30am.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will give a national press conference at 5pm.

Essex County Council has requested that the county area is placed in the lowest level of restrictions – Tier One – while it is expected many areas of the country will go into the higher tiers, including a number that were in lower tiers when lockdown started. Essex was under Tier 2 'High' level restrictions at that time after the county council requested the move.

The new tier system, unveiled by the PM earlier this week, features changes to each tier following analysis of how well the former measures worked pre-lockdown.

The new rules will come into effect when the current national lockdown ends at midnight on Wednesday, 2 December. At this time, non-essential shops, as well as gyms, hairdressers and beauty salons in in all tiers can re-open. Places of worship will be open and weddings can resume, operating within local restrictions.

Support bubbles

Support bubbles where a single-person household joins with another household of any size are also being allowed across all tiers. A person with a child under one counts as a single-person household for support bubble purposes, as does a person with a child under five who needs continuous care, such as those with disabilities. This also applies to single adult carers of a person with, for example, dementia, where they would also be eligible to form a support bubble with another household.

The new Tier One rules are as follows:

-Hospitality businesses can remain open until 11pm with last orders at 10pm

-The 'rule of six' will remain in place indoors, with households allowed to mix within that limit

-Spectator sort can resume with social distancing and limited numbers. With Tier One restrictions there will be a maximum crowd outdoors of up to 50 per cent of the occupancy for the stadium up to a maximum 4,000 people. There is a limit of 1,000 people indoors.

-People should work from home wherever possible.

The new Tier Two rules are as follows:

-Hospitality businesses can remain open until 11pm with last orders at 10pm, but only those businesses which also serve substantial meals will be allowed to open.

-Mixing of households, unless in support bubbles, will not be allowed indoors. The 'rule of six' will apply outdoors.

-Spectator sports can resume with social distancing and limited numbers. With Tier Two restrictions there will be a maximum crowd outdoors of up to 50 per cent of the occupancy for the stadium up to a maximum 2,000 people. There is a limit of 1,000 people indoors.

-Indoor entertainment venues such as bowling alleys, casinos and cinemas must remain closed in this tier.

The new Tier Three rules are as follows:

-Hospitality venues will have to close other than for takeaway and delivery services.

-Hotels will have to close except for work purposes.

-While outdoor sports including football, golf and tennis will be allowed, spectators will not be allowed in Tier Three.

Maldon Nub News will bring you news of which tier will apply locally as soon as possible after the announcement is made.