WARRINGTON Borough Council has agreed a deal with the government to move into Tier 3.

It means Warrington is now subject to the toughest set of lockdown restrictions.

But what can and can’t you do under the latest rules that are set to be brought in?

Here is how your life will be affected by the new Covid-19 restrictions:

Mixing households and socialising

You must not meet with anybody you do not live with anywhere indoors or in a private garden or beer garden, unless they are in your support bubble*.

You may continue to see friends and family you do not live with (or have formed a support bubble with) in groups of 6 or less in certain outdoor public spaces, such as:

  • parks, beaches, countryside, forests
  • public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them), allotments
  • outdoor sports courts and facilities, and playgrounds

When you do so, you must not meet in a group of more than 6. In England, this limit of 6 includes children of any age.

*A support bubble is where a household with one adult joins with another household. Households in that support bubble can still visit each other, stay overnight, and visit public places together.

Pubs and bars

Pub and bars must close, unless they ‘operate as if they were a restaurant’.

So premises can remain open if they serve ‘substantial meals’ and can only serve alcohol as part of such a meal.

Other public buildings

School and universities remain open, as do places of worship – but the mixing of households in the latter is not permitted.

Wedding and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees, but wedding receptions are not allowed.

15 people can attend weddings and 30 can attend funerals.

Exercising

Exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors.

But this will only be permitted ‘if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with or share a support bubble with’.

Exceptions are made for supervised activities for under 18s and in disability sport.

Travel

Residents ‘should try to avoid travelling outside the area’ other than for things like works, education or in order to provide care.

Staying overnight in another part of the country ‘should be avoided’.

Local variations

These restrictions listed above are regarded by the government as the minimum measures, on top of those that are already in place, but the rules in different areas regarded as being at a ‘very high level’ risk can vary.

‘Additional interventions in consultation with local authorities’ can also be imposed.

In Warrington, adult gaming centres, betting shops, soft play centres and casinos must all closed.

However leisure centres, hair and beauty salons and the newly opened Gravity trampoline park in Time Square remain unaffected and can stay open.

What is still open?

We have had a number of people get in touch about shops.

Unlike in Wales, all shops are open for business in Warrington.

Residents should continue to wear a face mask when required, work from home where possible, aim to reduce the number of journeys they make and follow social distancing rules.