Today marks Wiltshire’s first day in Tier 3, placing the county under ‘very high alert’ for Covid-19 following the most recent tier review. There will be some changes from Tier 2 – notably that hospitality businesses must now close, with the exception of takeaways, deliveries or drive-through services. Households must not mix indoors, and a maximum of six people can meet in some outdoor public spaces, such as parks, and everyone who can work from home should either continue to do so, or return to this way of working. Retail businesses; personal care businesses such as hairdressers and salons; schools, colleges and early years settings; and indoor leisure facilities can remain open. Full details of the Tier 3 restrictions can be found here.
Tonight would typically see many of us joining family and friends to celebrate the start of the new year, and it is a real shame that this cannot happen. As the scientist on the No 10 briefing said yesterday, 'Covid loves a party', so I'm afraid we mustn't have one. Everyone must stay at home and follow these new rules. Restricting our contact with others now, combined with increased testing and the rollout of the vaccines, will lead to a much faster return to normal life.
I wish you all a happy and healthy 2021.