WILTSHIRE will enter the ‘high alert’ Tier Two restrictions when lockdown ends of Wednesday - but what does that mean?

The new tier two restrictions will mean that people in Wiltshire:

  • cannot socialise with other households indoors but can meet up in groups of up to six outside. This includes gardens or other public places.
  • shops, gyms and services like hairdressers and barbers will be allowed to open their doors again – as long as they are Covid-secure.
  • pubs and bars will only be able to open if they serve ‘substantial meals’, and can only serve alcohol alongside their food.
  • sports will re-start again with up to 2,000 spectators or at 50 per cent capacity.
  • collective worship, weddings and outdoor sport can resume with restrictions.
  • non-essential travel abroad will be allowed – subject to restrictions.
  • theatres can re-open
  • you must follow tier two rules in a tier one area and avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier three zones

Leader of Wiltshire Council, Philip Whitehead said: “It is disappointing, but not surprising, that we find ourselves in a higher Tier than before.

“We have been planning for such an eventuality and we want to reassure residents and businesses that we are here to help them get through this.

“Covid-19 is still very prevalent and will be here for some time to come, so I advise everyone to keep social distancing, have good hand hygiene, wear a mask and self-isolate when required to do so.

“If we maintain that behaviour and everyone plays their part, then there's no reason why we can't move to the lowest tier and then eventually get to the other side of this.”

Cllr Whitehead alongside the director for public health in Wiltshire, Kate Blackburn and council chief executive, Terence Herbert are due to hold another online Covid briefing for residents on Tuesday, December 8 at 5pm.

This will give the people of Wiltshire the opportunity to get a place on where the county currently stands in the coronavirus crisis.

Questions can be submitted by emailing communications@wiltshire.gov.uk no later than 5pm on Sunday, December 6.