FEW MORE TIERS
BORIS JOHNSON revealed the new Tier 4 level on Saturday, as London and parts of the South East of England were plunged into the toughest lockdown measures.
But with the rapid spread of the new Covid strain, Matt Hancock has provided another update on the future of the tier system around the country.
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What did Matt Hancock say in Tier 4 announcement?
In his opening statement, the Health Secretary revealed that cases have risen by 57% in a week.
Mr Hancock reiterated that social distancing and minimal contact should be maintained over the Christmas period.
And he revealed that the Tier 3 restrictions are not enough to protect against the .
From 00:01 on Boxing Day, a host of new areas will be plunged into Tier 4 restrictions.
They include:
- Sussex
- Oxfordshire
- Norfolk
- Suffolk
- Cambridgeshire
- Parts of Essex not already in Tier 4
- Waverley in Surrey
- Hampshire, including Southampton and Portsmouth, except the New Forest.
Meanwhile, a host of areas in the south have been bumped up to a higher tier, including Cornwall.
Now in Tier 3 are:
- Bristol
- Gloucestershire
- Somerset (including North Somerset area)
- New Forest
- Swindon
- Isle of Wight
- Northamptonshire
- Cheshire
- Warrington
Cornwall and Herefordshire will be moving to Tier 2.
Mr Hancock also revealed that another two new strains have been detected that have come out of South Africa.
The Health Secretary announced that travel restrictions have been placed on South Africa, while anyone who has been in the country in the past two weeks has been urged to quarantine.
On a more positive note, the community testing program is being expanded, with 116 local areas now signed up.
And the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has had its full data package submitted to the MHRA for approval.
This vaccine is already being manufactured while the Pfizer jab continues to rolled out at at least 500 sites across the UK.
And vaccinations are also now being delivered in care homes, including the Chelsea Pensioners.
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What time was the Tier 4 lockdown announcement today?
Mr Hancock addressed the nation on the latest Tier 4 announcement at 3pm on Wednesday, December 23.
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He led the press conference at a Downing Street.
The Health Secretary provided the update alongside Dr Jenny Harries and Dr Stephen Powis.
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