MALDON is waiting to hear what pandemic restrictions are likely to look like for the district after national lockdown ends on 2 December.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to reveal to the nation this afternoon (Monday, 23 November) what the new 'tiered' system of restrictions for different areas of the country will involve.

The Government will tighten and change the restrictions in some tiers as analysis has shown that some of them were not effective in reducing infections.

The category that Essex – and therefore Maldon – was placed in before the second national lockdown was Tier 2 'High' level. has been revealed by Government scientists that those measures, which included a ban on different households meeting indoors, did not by themselves have the anticipated effect on rates of Covid-19 infection.

Essex County Council released a statement last week outlining hopes for the county at the end of national lockdown.

A spokesperson said: "All of our decisions in terms of the situation in Essex are driven by data. As we entered Tier 2 restrictions earlier in Essex in order to limit the increase in the infection rate, we believe that when England exits the lockdown, we will be better placed to recommend to government that Essex is put into the lowest level of restrictions, but the transmission data in the county must match our expectations."

"Again, the way that everyone can help bring down the transmission rate is to abide by the national restrictions, work from home wherever this is possible, observe social distancing at 2 metres and if you have symptoms to self-isolate and get a test."

Data for Essex revealed last Thursday showed that up until the previous Thursday (12 November) the seven-day rate of confirmed cases in the county had risen from 105.8 per 100,000 on 5 November to 140.9. For Maldon district, the rise over the same period was from 52.4 per 100,000 to 86.3. However, these rates remain well below the national average.

While the PM is expected to announce the detail of the new Tier system this afternoon, it may be Thursday before full details of which Tier Essex will go into are announced.

[H]2Some of the things that are anticipated:[.H2]

Gyms and non-essential shops will to be allowed to reopen when England's lockdown ends.

While parts of the tier system may be tougher, the 10pm closing time for pubs and restaurants will be relaxed.

And the ban on outdoor grassroots sport is also set to be lifted.

Mr Johnson is also expected to announce that mass testing will be introduced in all tier three areas. Rapid testing with military support, as used in Liverpool, will form part of the stricter system.

Testing will also be rolled out for care home visitors across England from next month - with every care home resident able to have two visitors tested twice a week.

It means people who live in care homes will be able to hug relatives by the end of the year, the government has said.

More areas are set to be placed in the higher tiers - high risk or very high risk - after lockdown, No 10 has said.

The PM had hoped to announce arrangements for the Christmas period today, but this has been delayed until at least Tuesday to allow the Scottish and Welsh cabinets to agree the plans.

It comes after the government said the UK's four nations had backed plans to allow some household mixing "for a small number of days" over Christmas.

It has been reported that one option that was discussed in meetings this weekend was that three households could be allowed to meet up for up to five days.

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