So on one minute past midnight the UK came out of a second lockdown –  but most of the country – including Suffolk –  moved into a worse situation than before. Along with 90% of the country we moved into a higher tier than before lockdown – Tier 2.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO NOW?

The main rule is still wash your hands, wear a mask and keep two metres apart (or 1 metre plus where 2 metres not possible)

 Everyone should still work from home if they can

All essential and non essential shops can open

Beauty parlours,  nail bars, hairdressers and spas can open

Community centres and libraries can open

All educational facilities and nurseries to remain open

Care home visits will be allowed in homes with covid secure facilities such as pods or marquees,  and up to two family members will be offered regular testing to support indoor visits.

You can view property or move house

Leisure centres, gyms and swimming pools can open

You can meet up to six people out doors socially distanced

WHAT YOU CAN’T DO?

No mixing of households indoors apart from bubbles

Pubs and bars can open but they can only sell alcohol with a substantial meal, table service only, last orders at 10pm and close at 11pm

Cafes – you can order coffee and snacks from the counter,  but table service must apply for meals

Entertainment venues including  cinemas, theatres and sports stadia can re open with limited capacity and can stay open till 11pm, with up to 2000 outdoors and up to 1000 indoors or 50% capacity whichever is lower

Churches can open  – but with social distancing and no mixing of households

Weddings, civil partnerships, receptions  and wakes can go ahead with 15 guests, funerals with 30.

Exercise classes and sport can continue out doors, and indoors but with no interaction between households.

WHAT ARE THE QUIRKS AND EXCEPTIONS?

You can meet up to six friends at the pub – but only in an outside area like a pub garden and only with a meal if you want alcohol

Ticketed events at covid secure venues can serve alcohol WITHOUT a meal

You can have workmen in your home and/or a cleaner – but you can’t have a friend if they are not in your bubble

If you are self employed and do not have your own workspace you can meet a colleague inside a pub or cafe for a business lunch.  

Travel between tiers is not banned – just advised against  – and its advised against to stay overnight in tier 3, but tier 2 is fine

You can travel through a tier 3 area to get to another tier 2 area

International travel ban is lifted but you may still have to quarantine at your destination depending on local restrictions and/or for 14 days on return if your country is not in the government’s travel corridor.

ENJOY