CHESHIRE East and West will discover on Thursday which tier level each borough is being placed into after Boris Johnson confirmed that the current national lockdown restrictions will be lifted next week.

In a speech to the House of Commons, via video call, the Prime Minister confirmed that the current blanket lockdown will be lifted on December 2, with the country returning to a three-tiered system.

Shops and gyms will be allowed to reopen and people will once again be allowed to mix with other households in public settings providing they are in groups of no more than six (the rule of six).

But, the PM said that restrictions in the highest tier settings needed to be much stricter this time around.

Both Cheshire East and West were in Tier 2 before the national lockdown, but a new announcement will be made on Thursday confirming the initial tier of each local authority across the country.

In his speech, Mr Johnson set out some high-level guidelines for each tier:

  • Tier 1 - People should try where possible to work from home.
  • Tier 2 - Pubs will only be able to reopen if they are able to serve a substantial meal to customers.
  • Tier 3 - Pubs and restaurants to remain closed.

The criteria for each tier will be based on a blend of key factors, focusing on local area case numbers, reproduction rate (R number) and the level of pressure local NHS services are currently placed under.

Mr Johnson said most areas would fall into the toughest restrictions to 'maintain pressure on the virus'.

In areas where hospitality businesses will be open, the 10pm curfew will be replaced by 10pm 'last orders' and an 11pm closing time.

The PM also announced that spectators would be finally allowed to return to sporting events, using the following system:

  • Tier 1 - Maximum 4,000 spectators outdoors / 2,000 indoors
  • Tier 2 - Maximum 2,000 spectators outdoors / 1,000 indoors
  • Tier 3 - Continued ban on spectators

The PM also touched upon Christmas with plans for a time-limited Christmas dispensation with the devolved administrations.

He told the Commons: "I can't say that Christmas will be normal this year, but in a period of adversity time spent with loved ones is even more precious for people of all faiths and none.

"We all want some kind of Christmas, we need it, we certainly feel we deserve it. But what we don't want is to throw caution to the winds and allow the virus to flare up again, forcing us all back into lockdown in January.

"So to allow families to come together, while minimising the risk, we're working with the devolved administrations on a special time-limited Christmas dispensation, embracing the whole of the United Kingdom."

The tier system is expected to last until March, with reviews conducted every 14 days.