Isle Of Wight Stays In Tier 1 As Government Reveals Latest Coronavirus Restrictions

BREAKING NEWS: The Isle of Wight will remain in Tier 1 as the Government announces its latest coronavirus restrictions.

However, Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant are being plunged into Tier 3 from 12.01am on Saturday (19).

From Saturday, the following areas will be moved up into Tier 3:

• Bedford
• Central Bedfordshire
• Luton
• Milton Keynes
• Buckinghamshire
• Reading
• Wokingham
• Bracknell Forest
• Windsor and Maidenhead
• West Berkshire
• Peterborough
• The rest of Hertfordshire not already in Tier 3 (Dacorum, East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire, St Albans, Stevenage and Welwyn Hatfield)
• Surrey (except Waverley)
• Hastings and Rother
• Portsmouth
• Havant
• Gosport

However, the health secretary did say that Bristol and North Somerset will move down from Tier 3 to Tier 2.

Herefordshire will move from Tier 2 to Tier 1.

It was announced on Monday that London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire would move into Tier 3, with change taking effect on Wednesday.

The first review of the strengthened tiered system of coronavirus restrictions comes ahead of a relaxation of the rules over Christmas.

Isle of Wight - Tier 1

Under Tier 1 rules, pubs and restaurants on the Island will be able to stay open until 11pm, with table service only.

Shops, hairdressers and leisure centres can also stay open, while sport can also continue.

What does it mean for visitors?

Isle of Wight Council Leader, Dave Stewart, told Isle of Wight Radio last week that visits to the Island are not advised at the moment.

Those living in a Tier 3 area cannot travel to other UK destinations under Government rules.

Tier 1 Restrictions:

In Tier 1 areas, people must abide by the “Rule of Six” when meeting other households both indoors and outdoors.

• People are still advised to continue to work from home where possible.
• Last orders in hospitality venues serving food and drink will be called at 10pm and customers will be allowed to stay until 11pm. 
• Spectator sports will be allowed to resume both indoors and outdoors in Tier 1, with COVID-safe measures and social distancing in place.
• The public will also be allowed to attend performances and shows in theatres and other entertainment venues, both indoors and outdoors, at a limited capacity.
• The limits for sports and events will be 4,000 people or 50 per cent of the usual capacity outdoors. Indoors, the limit will be 1,000 people.

The other rules are:

• All businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law, such as nightclubs and adult entertainment venues
• Hospitality businesses serving food and drink should close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, on transport services and in motorway service areas are exempt)
• The 11pm closure also applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities and bingo halls
• Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm
• Schools, universities and places of worship remain open (For the latter, groups attending religious services are expected to follow the rule of six - with larger families exempt)
• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees (15 and 30 respectively)
• Organised indoor sport and exercise classes can continue to take place, provided the "Rule of Six" is followed (There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes, and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing).