SINCE December 2, Warrington has been operating under tier 2 coronavirus restrictions.

This week, the government will decide which areas, if any, will moved into different tiers.

So what is the current situation in Warrington?

Which tier is Warrington currently in?

Warrington has been in tier 2 since the end of national lockdown on December 2.

Warrington, along with Liverpool, were the only areas of the country to move down a tier from the toughest tier 3 to tier 2.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson even praised the town as being an example to others.

Warrington Guardian: Boris Johnson is currently driving the UK off a cliff in slow motion

In effect, tier 2 means restaurants and pubs can open if they serve food.

However different households still cannot mix indoors.

What is the current situation in Warrington?

Over the past few days, positive coronavirus tests have levelled off.

As of yesterday, Sunday, there were 267 positive tests in the past week. Almost the same figure as the previous week.

And equivalent to 129 cases per 100,000 people.

However that is still a long way down from the rate of almot 400 when Warrington moved into tier 3 at the end of October.

At the end of the second national lockdown on December 2, the figure was 140.

How about the hospital?

There are still a lot of people being treated in Warrington Hospital.

Warrington Guardian:

On Friday, there were 135 patients with Covid-19 and eight patients in intensive care.

That is down from a high of 170 at the start of November, but will way above the peak of 122 in April.

275 people have died since the start of the pandemic.

So is Warrington likely to move tiers?

Well these figures suggest no.

However according to a report from Imperial College last week, Warrington was on a watchlist of four areas across the country which could face tougher restrictions.

However the council rubbished this.

Council chief executive Steven Broomhead said: “The academic research bears no reality to the current coronavirus situation in Warrington. Our communities have worked hard to drive down case numbers in Warrington since we were placed into tier 2 by the government on 2 December.

“The government will make the decision about which tiers areas will be placed into next week, and we are confident that we will remain tier 2 as long as everyone is respectful of the rules."

What would tier 3 mean?

It would be bad news for hospitality.

In effect, restaurants and bars could only stay open for takeaway and click and collect - bad news in the final week of trading before Christmas.

Indoor entertainment venues would also close.

When is the decision made?

The government will say which authorities are changing tier on Wednesday. The new rules are expected to be in force on Friday.

Councils are set to be informed early in the week