London ‘will be in Tier 2’ when lockdown ends but new tighter restrictions will make it feel like Tier 3
- Capital is expected to return to same tier two ‘high’ level as before November 5
- It means non-essential shops, pubs and gyms can reopen from December 3
- But rules are expected to be tighter, specifically affecting pubs not serving foodÂ
- Boris Johnson will reveal on Thursday which tiers will apply to each part of UK
London is set to go back into the tier two level of coronavirus restrictions from December 3 after the second lockdown ends, it was claimed today.
The return to the same ‘high’ level as before November 5 means non-essential shops, pubs, restaurants and gyms will be allowed to reopen in the capital.
But the rules are expected to be tighter than before, with speculation mounting over whether pubs will only be allowed to open if serving ‘substantial meals’ with drinks.
Boris Johnson is expected to reveal on Thursday which tiers will apply to each part of Britain, with no decision yet taken on whether London will go back into tier two.
Covent Garden in London is pictured on Friday. The capital is expected to go back into tier two
The highest infection rate is in Havering, east London, according to official statistics. It comes 106th in the league table of 317 authorities in England
The move could depend on data on cases and the R number for transmission in the capital over the next few days, reported the London Evening Standard.
But the Government face be significant criticism from politicians and business leaders if the capital was put into the higher tier three level.
Jace Tyrrell, chief executive of New West End Company, told the newspaper: ‘Reopening in a safe and sustainable way from December 3 is vital to ensure that retailers and leisure operators get the best possible opportunity to make up some of the billions in lost trade this season.
‘In order for this to be most effective, we hope the Government recognises the latest figures we have seen in the capital and will see fit to place London at the very least in Tier 2, if not Tier 1.’
In a Commons statement this afternoon, Boris Johnson is set to confirm the second national lockdown will end in England on December 2, with a return to the regional approach that was in force before
A small number of pedestrians walk along an empty King’s Road in London’s Chelsea last week
There have also been claims that tiers should vary between boroughs, although this would be hard to enforce given how many Londoners travel between them for work.
Today, Mr Johnson will set out plans for the new tiers of restrictions to replace the lockdown in England and to pave the way for a limited relaxation at Christmas.
He will detail his winter strategy this afternoon, with a plan to deploy a major testing scheme in an attempt to winner over rebels on the Conservative backbenches.
It is understood that he will tell MPs that non-essential shops can open in all three tiers after the current restrictions expire on December 2, in a boost for retailers.
Mr Johnson will set out the basis of plans to allow a small number of households across the UK to mix over a limited number of days around Christmas.
It comes as hopes were raised that vaccines could end the pandemic after a British jab was found to be up to 90 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19.
AstraZeneca and Oxford University said their jab is effective in stopping most people from contracting coronavirus and falling seriously ill.
There are some indications that it can also prevent people passing the virus to others. The jab is likely to be rolled out in the UK from December.