People in Hertfordshire will face tougher restrictions after lockdown than before following the announcement that the county will be placed in Tier 2.

Hertfordshire had been in Tier 1 before the full lockdown was imposed, so the move up means stricter restrictions will be imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus.

This includes pubs and bars remaining closed after lockdown unless operating as restaurants, while different households mixing indoors will also be banned.

Here is what you can expect in Hertfordshire when lockdown is lifted:

  • No mixing of households indoors aside from support bubbles will be allowed, with a maximum gathering of six permitted outdoors.
  • Pubs and bars will remain closed unless operating as restaurants, with alcohol only served as part of a “substantial meal” until 10pm, before venues must close at 11pm.
  • All retail, leisure and personal care services are able to reopen.
  • People will be encouraged to reduce the number of journeys they make and to avoid travelling into Tier 3 areas, except for reasons of education or work.
  • Overnight stays will only be permitted for those in the same household or support bubble and accommodation can open.
  • Places of worship can reopen, but people must not interact with anyone outside their household or support bubble.
  • Fifteen guests will be allowed at weddings and civil partnerships, increasing to 30 for funerals.
  • Classes and organised sport can take place outdoors but not indoors if there is any interaction between two different households.
  • Large events including sport and live performances will be open to the public but limited to 50 per cent capacity or 2,000 outdoors and 1,000 indoors.
  • If you live in a tier 2 area, you must continue to follow tier 2 rules when you travel to a tier 1 area. 

It was expected that the county would be placed into Tier 2, with most areas in the county still reporting more than 100 cases per week per 100,000 population.

Case rates have dropped over the last week, but most districts in the county remain higher than what they had been under the tier system in October.

Mr Hancock said: “Thanks to the hard work and sacrifice made by people up and down the country, we are able to move out of national lockdown and into more targeted local, tiered restrictions.

“I know for those of you faced with Tier 3 restrictions this will be a particularly difficult time but I want to reassure you that we’ll be supporting your areas with mass community testing and extra funding.

“By following the rules together we can get out of these tough measures.”