Grantham to go into Tier Three

Grantham, together with the rest of Lincolnshire is to be placed under tier 3 restrictions from December 2, the Government website has confirmed.

This is despite being in an area below the national average for Covid-19 cases.

Gyms, shops and hairdressers will be able to open in all tiers and spectators will be able to return to watch some sports and weddings and religious services can resume.

But tier 3 status means pubs and restaurants are limited to takeaway only and households cannot mix indoors or outdoors in pubs or restaurants or in private gardens.

Decisions are made on an area’s number of cases and infection rates and the NHS’s ability to cope, and will be subject to review every two weeks.

Lincolnshire County Council Leader Councillor Martin Hill, in a letter to Matt Hancock yesterday, wrote: “Infection rates in the majority of the county are well below the national average with South Holland, West Lindsey, South Kesteven and North Kesteven all at or below 200/100,000 per population.

“It is only in the Lincoln, East Lindsey and Boston areas, where we see levels above the national average but these are all now declining.

“In fact, there is more than a three-fold difference between the rate in South Holland District Council and Boston.”

Almost nowhere in the country put into tier 1 – the lowest level of restrictions.

In tier 2, only pubs and restaurants that serve main meals can sell alcohol, with last orders at 10pm and closing time at 11pm.

The rule of six limit on the number of people meeting indoors or outdoors remains in tier 1, there can be no mixing indoors in tier 2 areas.