Nottingham and Nottinghamshire move to Tier 3 Very High restrictions for Covid-19

All nine councils have now agreed that Nottingham and Nottinghamshire should move together into Tier 3 restrictions for the city and the county following discussions between Government and Council Leaders.

The ‘Very High’ alert measures come into force at one minute past midnight on Friday 30 October 2020.

The Tier 3 restrictions mean:

• People must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting unless they are part of their household or support bubble. This includes private homes and indoors in hospitality venues, such as pubs.
• People must not meet with people outside of their household or support bubble in a private garden or in most outdoor public venues.
• People can continue to see friends and family in groups of six or less that they don’t live with (or have formed a support bubble with) in certain outdoor public spaces, such as a park or public garden.
• All pubs and bars must close unless they are serving substantial meals, such as a main lunchtime or evening meal. They can only serve alcohol as part of a meal. Pubs, bars and restaurants must still close between 10pm and 5am.
• Wedding receptions will not be permitted, but people can get married with a maximum of 15 people at the ceremony (check with the venue for additional restrictions).
• Avoid travelling outside the Very High alert area or entering a Very High alert level area, other than for work, education or for caring responsibilities, or to travel through as part of a longer journey.
• Avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK.

As well as the main Tier 3 restrictions, Council Leaders have agreed the following additional local restrictions:

• All hospitality venues (cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs) can only remain open to offer substantial meals, or must move to operate a delivery and takeaway service only. Alcohol can only be served with a substantial meal.
• The use of shared smoking equipment (such as but not limited to shisha) in hospitality venues will be prohibited.
• Betting shops, car boot sales and auction houses (with the exception of Livestock and agricultural equipment sales) must close.
• Alcohol sales must be prohibited after 9pm where alcohol is purchased to consume off premises, for example shops. Alcohol can continue to be purchased in hospitality venues where accompanying a substantial meal, up until 10pm.
• Indoor entertainment and tourism venues must close, except for ice-skating rinks, cinemas, concert halls, and theatres. Hotels and other accommodation can stay open.
• Outdoor entertainment and tourism venues can remain open, with the exception of their indoor attractions (such as animal attractions or landmarks).
• Saunas and steam rooms must close.
• Leisure and sporting facilities (such as leisure centres, gyms, fitness and dance studios, swimming pools and sports courts) can remain open. It is strongly advised that indoor group exercise classes (including dance and fitness classes) should not take place.
• Personal care settings such as tattoo parlours, tanning and nail salons, and piercing services must close. Hairdressers and barber salons can remain open but cannot perform services that are otherwise closed. It is advised that personal care services do not take place in private homes.
• Public buildings such as town and parish halls, community centres and libraries can remain open to run activities such as childcare and support groups. Public buildings should not host events for private hire, such as birthday parties or other social activities.

Government and local partners will closely monitor the impact of these new restrictions, which will be in place for 28 days from Friday 30^th October and will be kept under review.

As well as the new restrictions, please continue to:

• wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds
• wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will coming into contact with people you do not normally meet
• stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing a face covering, or increasing ventilation indoors).

People who have symptoms of Covid-19 – high temperature, continuous cough or loss of taste or smell – must self-isolate immediately and book a test online or by calling 119.

More information

We appreciate there is a lot of information to absorb. We are continuing to work through the guidance for these stricter/additional restrictions and will share more details, guidance and FAQs as soon as possible. This information will be posted on the council websites.

More detail about the Tier 3 restrictions are on the Government website here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-level-very-high