THE MAJORITY of Surrey will be placed into ’tier 3’, the Very High Covid alert level, from December 19 – but Waverley is to remain in ’tier 2’.

Three parts of Hampshire – Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant – have also been placed under tier 3 restrictions, the Government has confirmed.

But East Hampshire and Hart are among those to remain in tier 2.

Because of rapidly rising rates of coronavirus across most of Surrey, the Government has taken the decision to implement ’tier 3’ restrictions in all Surrey districts and boroughs apart from Waverley.

The Very High alert level is for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level of infections, where tighter restrictions are required.

The decision to move an area into a higher tier is based on a number of indicators, including the overall infection rate, the rate in the over 60s, and the pressure on the NHS.

This means that, with the exception of Waverley, if you live in Surrey:

* You can only mix households (in groups of up to six) in outdoor spaces, such as parks and the countryside, not in private gardens

* All hospitality venues such as bars, pubs and cafés must shut. They can open for takeaway only

* Indoor entertainment venues, such as theatres and cinemas, must close

* Accommodation, such as hotels and B&Bs, must close

This is in addition to existing guidelines that state you must not mix with anyone you don’t live with (or who aren’t in your support bubble) in any indoor setting.

Residents in Waverley should continue to follow tier 2 rules (see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-2-high-alert).

Residents in tier 3 should avoid travelling outside their area, including for overnight stays, other than where necessary, such as for work, education or medical treatment. They should also continue to follow tier 3 rules if they travel to an area in a lower tier and must not stay with anyone they do not live with elsewhere in the UK, or visit their home (unless they share a support bubble).

Announcing the move to tier 3, Surrey County Council has advised everyone in Surrey should continue to follow guidance on wearing face coverings, social distancing, and working from home when possible.

If you can’t work from home you should walk or cycle where possible, or try to avoid busy times on public transport.

Tim Oliver, leader of Surrey County Council, said: “The Government has taken the decision to put most of the county under further restrictions because of their much higher rates of infection.

"I know this will be very disappointing news for residents and businesses in our tier 3 areas, after an exceptionally difficult year. But we need to take swift action to save lives and stop our crucial NHS services from being put under even more pressure.

"We all need to be extremely vigilant, including residents in Waverley, as the situation can change quickly and we want to prevent them going into tier 3 in the new year.

“With the Christmas bubbles coming up on December 23, please make sure you understand and follow the guidance, to protect your loved ones and prevent even higher infection rates in the new year.

“There is hope on the horizon with the rollout of the vaccine across the county, starting with the over-80s. But it will take time and we cannot let our guard down. "The coming weeks will be a challenge to us all, but it is crucial that we reduce the spread of this virus and get through the winter as safely as possible.”

Councillor Keith Mans, Leader of Hampshire County Council, added: “Central Government has confirmed that the local authority areas of Havant Borough and Gosport Borough will come under COVID Tier 3 (Very High) restrictions from Saturday, December 19. Other parts of the Hampshire County Council local authority area remain in Tier 2 (High).

“This is a stark reminder to everyone that cases of the virus continue to rise, and we must work together, follow the rules and do everything we can to protect one another.

"We obviously want to try and bring the infection rates down across the county as a whole and get back to a lower Tier as quickly as possible - especially as we are now in the colder months when people’s health can be more at risk.

"What we do now, will make a big difference to how we fare over the winter. So, while we wait for the vaccine to roll out, following the rules for your area is the best protection we have for ourselves, our communities, and our loved ones.

“With Christmas just days away, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has also stressed that a smaller and shorter Christmas is going to be safer this year.

"This means we also need to think very carefully about the additional risks associated with establishing a Christmas Bubble – and consider what more we can all do to protect ourselves and our loved ones, particularly those who are elderly or clinically extremely vulnerable.”

Tiers will continue to be reviewed every two weeks. On January 27, Parliament will vote again on whether to keep the system in place.