Hastings and Rother placed into tougher Tier 4 restrictions. What it means for you

Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation this evening outlining the new restrictions, which are broadly equivalent to the national lockdown rules which were introduced last month.

The new tougher measures come into force at midnight tonight.

They apply to all areas currently under Tier 3 restrictions, which includes London, parts of the South East and Hastings and Rother.

It means people living in Tier 4 must not leave their areas.

Non-essential retail and indoor gyms must also close. People must also stay at home with limited exceptions.

Communal worship can continue, Mr Johnson said.

People should also work from home when they can.

People from other parts of the UK also must not enter Tier 4 areas.

Christmas bubbles for those living in Tiers 1 to 3 will not be able to include anyone in Tier 4.

In Tier 4, people are not permitted to mix with anyone outside their own household, apart from support bubbles.

Those living in Tier 4 areas are also not permitted to travel abroad, the Prime Minister announced this evening.

The rest of East and West Sussex, including Brighton and Hove will remain in Tier 2.

The restrictions will be reviewed on December 30.

Mr Johnson said: “We cannot continue Christmas as planned.”

He added that the spread of the virus in London and the South East was being driven by the new variant of Covid-19.

The Prime Minister reiterated, however, that there is no evidence that it causes more severe illness or higher mortality.

Mr Johnson said: “It may be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the old variant.”

The Government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said the new Covid-19 variant was first seen in mid-September in London and Kent and by this month had become the ‘dominant’ variant in London.

Hastings and Rother had been placed under tougher Tier 3 restrictions from today due to rising infection rates following an announcement by Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Thursday (December 17).

The rest of East Sussex and West Sussex, together with Brighton and Hove, were kept under Tier 2.

London was placed in Tier 3 earlier this week.

Ahead of this evening’s announcement, Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty said: “As announced on Monday, the UK has identified a new variant of Covid-19 through Public Health England’s genomic surveillance.

“As a result of the rapid spread of the new variant, preliminary modelling data and rapidly rising incidence rates in the South East, the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) now consider that the new strain can spread more quickly.

“We have alerted the World Health Organisation and are continuing to analyse the available data to improve our understanding.

“There is no current evidence to suggest the new strain causes a higher mortality rate or that it affects vaccines and treatments although urgent work is underway to confirm this.

“Given this latest development it is now more vital than ever that the public continue to take action in their area to reduce transmission.”

Hastings and Rye MP, Sally-Ann Hart said: “As we have all come to see in recent weeks, the rates of Covid-19 infections across Hastings and Rother are rising, and continue to rise, at an alarming rate.

“It is believed that in London and the South East this continued sharp rise is down to a new strain of coronavirus that seems to spread among people far more easily.

“Therefore, the Prime Minister has announced this afternoon that our area is now moving into a new tier – Tier 4.

“This means that from midnight tonight all non-essential retail must close, including gyms, leisure centres, hairdressers and beauticians; travel abroad and outside tier 4 areas is not permitted, expect for exceptional circumstances; you cannot meet anyone outside your own household unless part of a support bubble in indoor places; and now Christmas bubbles cannot be formed.

“I know this is incredibly tough for everyone, residents and businesses, however we knew that as we approached the winter months of January and February, the NHS was going to be under incredible pressure and the virus would hold the upper hand, as viruses of all kinds do in these colder periods.

“No elected representative ever wants to impose restrictions like this on anyone, and I know this will be disappointing and frustrating news with all the plans that have been made. But we must get control of this virus.

“Now that the vaccine is being rolled out, we can see hope lies ahead in 2021, but we cannot throw away all our hard effort of the last ten months in this final stretch.

“Please do take this seriously and follow the clear rules and guidance. Keep washing your hands regularly, cover your face when indoor public places and on public transport, and keep your distance from anyone who is not a member of your household. And now, most importantly, you need to stay at home once again.

“Please everyone, do keep safe this Christmas time and look out for the vulnerable and those on their own.

“These are dark days we are facing, but the sun is rising and soon a new dawn will break upon a better, safer and hopeful new year.”

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.