Bristol officially placed under Tier 3 COVID-19 restrictions

Bristol officially placed under Tier 3 COVID-19 restrictions

Posted on: 26 Nov 2020

Strict measures have been implemented across the South West to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

 

The government have today (Thursday 26 November) announced Tier 3 - or very high alert - restrictions for Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset as part of a nationwide system to limit the spread of coronavirus.

 

While all essential and non-essential retail can reopen, as well as some leisure and sports facilities, the new guidelines mean that hospitality businesses will be forced to remain closed.

 

After an incredibly difficult summer and the impact of a second lockdown in November, pubs and hospitality venues across the city are expected to face increasingly uncertain futures going into what should be a busy festive period.

 

 

Reacting to the announcement earlier today, Bristol City Council forecasted that Tier 3 restrictions would cost the city £2.8 million per month, a result of a lack of government funding to support at-risk businesses and vulnerable people.

 

Releasing a statement in response to the new system, Marvin Rees said: “While we all want to get back to normal as quickly as possible we also must get the COVID-19 infection rate in the city down.

 

"COVID-19 is devastating lives and livelihoods – people are becoming very unwell and businesses and workers are facing enormous financial challenges.

 

“For every moment we are in Tier 3, the hospitality sector will be further damaged, people will lose businesses they have built up and jobs will be on the line. We can all help move to a tier with fewer restrictions if we work together and follow the guidance.

 

“COVID-19 is transmitted from person to person, and we know that one of the main reasons for the recent increase in infection rates is because people are going into other people’s homes when they shouldn’t be.

 

"We all want to see friends and family, but for now it is really important we protect those we love by not visiting them. The sooner we all do this, the sooner we can get back to some normality.”

 

 

Bristol's number of COVID cases has risen sharply since September, and at the time of writing, the city now has an infection rate of 390.2 new cases per 100,000 people. 

 

Despite lockdown officially ending on Wednesday 2 December, Bristol's Tier 3 classification means that there will still be restrictions on socialising. Tier 3 measures are as follows:

 

  • You cannot meet socially indoors or in most outdoor spaces with people outside your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues

 

  • You must not socialise in a group of more than six in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility

 

  • Hospitality settings, such as bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery

 

  • Accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training

 

  • Indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close. This includes indoor play centres and areas, including trampoline parks and soft play, casinos, bingo halls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, amusement arcades and adult gaming centres, laser quests and escape rooms, cinemas, theatres and concert halls and snooker halls

 

  • Indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open)

 

  • Leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should close

 

  • There should be no public attendance at spectator sports or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators

 

  • Large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events

 

  • Places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with  anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies

 

  • Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees - 5 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events

 

  • Organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place

 

  • Organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s

 

For more information about COVID-19 restrictions in Bristol, or to follow news and updates in the coming weeks, find Bristol City Council on Twitter.

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Article by:

Matt Robson

 

Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
 

Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.