New Tier 4 measures, which will come into force at 00:01 on Thursday December 31, will effectively return the county to the national lockdown rules implemented in November.
As Lancashire prepares to move into the new Tier, these are the key changes that you need to know about (full details on essential services, exceptions and additional rules can be found on the government website):
. Socialising
Under Tier 4 restrictions people cannot socialise indoors with family or friends, unless they are part of your household or support bubble. You can still exercise or visit a public outdoor space with only 1 person from another household if you are alone.
. Gyms and sports facilities
All indoor gyms and sports facilities must close. Outdoor sports courts, outdoor gyms, golf courses, outdoor swimming pools, archery/driving/shooting ranges, riding centres and playgrounds can remain open for individual exercise.
1. Socialising
Under Tier 4 restrictions people cannot socialise indoors with family or friends, unless they are part of your household or support bubble. You can still exercise or visit a public outdoor space with only 1 person from another household if you are alone.
2. Gyms and sports facilities
All indoor gyms and sports facilities must close. Outdoor sports courts, outdoor gyms, golf courses, outdoor swimming pools, archery/driving/shooting ranges, riding centres and playgrounds can remain open for individual exercise.
3. Going out
Residents in Tier 4 areas must not leave or be outside of their home or garden except where there is a ‘reasonable excuse’. Reasonable excuses include; work, volunteering, essential activities such as food or medicine collections, fulfilling legal obligations, education or childcare, exercise, medical reasons, compassionate visits and communal worship.
4. Travel
People living in a Tier 4 area you must not leave home or the area other than for legally permitted reasons, including, work, education, visiting people in your support bubble or for childcare reasons.
5. Shops, entertainment and personal contact service
All non-essential retail, hospitality, entertainment, accommodation, leisure, personal care venues and community centres must close. Businesses that can remain open include, supermarkets, pharmacies, garden centres, building merchants, repair businesses, petrol stations, banks and funeral directors.
6. Overnight stays
People cannot leave their home for holidays or overnight stays unless they have a reasonable excuse for doing so. This means that holidays in the UK and abroad are not allowed.