PUBS, casinos and bingo halls in England are among the businesses that may be forced to close in Tier Three coronavirus lockdown areas.
Today, it was revealed that Lancashire is the latest region to be classified as a very high risk.
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Earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his new three-tier system for tackling rising coronavirus cases today, with Tier Three being the highest risk regions.
Liverpool is also classed as very high risk area, while talks are still in place over whether Manchester will move into the top tier.
Every area of England is now classified medium, high or very high risk.
Tier One areas – medium risk – must follow current social distancing measures, the “rule of six”, and a pub curfew of 10pm.
Households in Tier Two – high risk areas – will have the same restrictions, plus a ban on households mixing indoors.
Tier Three areas – very high risk – will have all the above rules, plus they won’t be able to leave their region unless for essential reasons such as work, education or health.
Some businesses in Tier Three areas may also have to close – we explain what this means below.
Lockdown measures is a devolved issue, which means Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can set their own rules to control the virus.
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Will businesses in Tier Three areas have to close?
Pubs and bars in Tier Three regions in England will have to close unless they can operate as a restaurant.
Other businesses at risk of temporary closure include those in the personal care, entertainment, leisure and hospitality industries, although discussions with local authorities must be undertaken first.
This means casinos, bookmakers, hair dressers, beauty salons and gyms could also be told to shut.
Nightclubs, which haven’t reopened since March, will remain closed.
Any closures will come as a blow to the pubs industry with boozers already restricted by a 10pm curfew in England.
For businesses that must shut in England, or that have been closed since the height of the coronavirus pandemic in March, the government last week announced grants worth £3,000 a month.
The new safety net is an increase from the previous £1,500 grant which could be claimed every three weeks.
Which businesses are closed in Liverpool and Lancashire?
In Lancashire, local leaders have agreed that from Monday that arcades, casinos, bingo halls, bookmakers and betting shops, and soft play areas must close.
It has also ruled that car boot sales are banned too.
In Liverpool it was agreed that indoor gyms, fitness studios, sports and leisure centres, betting shops, arcades and casinos must close.
Which businesses will stay open in Tier Three areas?
Restaurants will be allowed to stay open, although they’ll continue to be subject to current 10pm curfew rules.
Schools, universities and colleges will also stay open in Tier Three lockdown areas.
Shops will not have to shut, as the Prime Minister confirmed the retail industry will be unaffected.
Businesses that won’t close include:
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The three-tier plan is designed to simplify coronavirus lockdowns across the UK.
The Prime Minister will later address the nation in a live press conference at 7pm this evening with chancellor Rishi Sunak and chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty.
It comes as Nightingale hospitals across the North are on standby as coronavirus levels are four weeks off those seen at the peak of virus.
Boris Johnson unveils new coronavirus measures to parliament
