Tier 4 explained – how is it different to a national lockdown?

THE PM, Boris Johnson, announced a new, tougher fourth tier of coronavirus restrictions for England on December 20, 2020.

But days later, after Christmas, he announced a national lockdown and instructed people to stay at home to control the virus, protect the NHS and save lives.

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What is Tier 4?

Tier 4 is, in essence, similar to a lockdown.

In this category, the ‘Stay At Home’ message continues – by law – to help stem coronavirus cases.

But there are some exemptions – including travelling for work or education, for childcare purposes, and for exercise.

What are the Tier 4 rules?

You must stay at home and only leave for a specific purpose or if you have a “reasonable excuse”.

This includes going to work if it cannot be done from home, shopping for essentials such as food and medicine, attending education or training, using registered childcare, outdoor exercise and for medical reasons.

The rules are strict: you cannot meet other people indoors unless you live with them or they are part of your existing support bubble.

Outdoors, you can only meet one person from another household in a public place.

Support and childcare bubbles can continue in Tier 4 areas.

Early years settings and childminders can remain open as normal, while nannies are also allowed to carry on providing services, including in the home.

You are allowed to take unlimited exercise alone, or in a public outdoor place with your household, support bubble, or one other person.

But indoor leisure and sports facilities, including gyms, must close.

Non-essential retail must close, including clothing and homeware stores, betting shops, tailors, tobacco and vape shops, electronic goods and mobile phone shops.

But, these stores can continue to operate click-and-collect systems, if goods are pre-ordered and collected off the premises, and delivery services.

Cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs are also closed under Tier 4.

They can, however, provide food and drink through takeaways until 11pm, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery.

Elsewhere, entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums, galleries and casinos also remain closed.

How is Tier 4 different to a national lockdown?

England officially entered its third national lockdown from January 5, 2021, in response to an infectious new Covid strain.

The four UK Chief Medical Officers advised that the Covid threat level was so high that if action was not taken NHS capacity might be overwhelmed within 21 days.

When the Government announced a new national lockdown in England, this replaced the tier system and meant we must all stay at home as much as possible.

Differences between Tier 4 and national lockdown rules include:

• The clinically extremely vulnerable were advised under the national lockdown to begin shielding again
• All primary schools, secondary schools and colleges changed to remote learning, except for the children of key workers and vulnerable children
• Pubs and other venues were no longer able to serve takeaway or click-and-collect alcohol
• Places of worship were allowed to remain open, but people were told to only visit with their own household
• People were told they should not travel outside their local area