MILLIONS of families will be asking what the shock Covid-19 rules announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night mean for us all as we prepare for Christmas.

Matt Wilkinson finds out the answers to the most important questions.

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Q: WHAT DOES TIER 4 MEAN FOR CHRISTMAS?

A: There can be no indoor household mixing.

You must stay within your own household.

You cannot visit any other households over Christmas while living in Tier 4.

Q: WHAT ABOUT TIERS 1, 2 & 3?

A: You can visit relatives indoors only on Christmas Day.

But Prof Whitty urged people to keep their visits as “local and as short as possible”.

Q: WHAT ABOUT THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED FIVE-DAY CHRISTMAS RELAXATION OF RULES?

A: The five-day window — proposed lifting of restrictions between December 23 and 27 – has been cancelled across the country.

Those in Tiers 1, 2, and 3 can only now see other families indoors on Christmas Day.

Q: WHAT ABOUT THE ELDERLY?

A: Support bubbles remain in place for those in isolation and loneliness.

Q: WHAT ABOUT MEETING PEOPLE OUTDOORS IN TIER 4?

A: Yes, but you can only meet one person outdoor in a public place

Q: SO IF I LIVE IN TIER 4 CAN I TRAVEL TO SEE MY GRANDPARENTS WHO LIVE IN OTHER TIERS?

A: No. Nobody living in Tier 4 can travel out of the area.

Q: CAN RELATIVES IN TIERS 1, 2 OR 3 VISIT FAMILY ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN TIER 4?

A: No. Nobody can travel into Tier 4 from other areas from today, even to see family for Christmas.

The areas in the new Tier 4 from tonight at midnight

Kent

Buckinghamshire

Berkshire

Surrey (excluding Waverley)

The boroughs of Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings

All 32 London boroughs and the city of London.

Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough
Hertfordshire

Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring)

Q: CAN I SEE MY FAMILY IF I LIVE IN TIER 3 AND THEY LIVE IN TIER 3?

A: The Government is advising people to stay local and keep visits short.

Q: CAN I SPEND THE NIGHT WITH MY PARTNER IN TIER 3 OR 4?

A: No. Overnight stays outside your home are banned.

Q: BUT I WANT TO GIVE MY GRAN A HUG?

A: Not if you live in Tier 4.

You must stay at home and not socialise with other households.

All other Tiers are told to keep Christmas visits short and stay local.

Q: SURELY THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS FOR TIER 4?

A: There are only exemptions for support bubbles and for separated parents and their children.

Q: WHAT IF I’VE ALREADY PACKED MY BAG TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH FAMILY?

A: Prof Whitty yesterday told Brits to “unpack” and stay at home as all travel is banned.

Q: CAN I AT LEAST GO TO THE GYM AND WORK OFF MY CHRISTMAS EXCESS?

A: Not if you live in Tier 4 areas as the gyms and indoor entertainment will close.

Q: BUT CAN I STILL DO MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN TIER 4?

A: No.

All non-essential retail shops are closed.

This includes many stores where you would hope to pick up last minute gifts.

Q: CAN I TREAT MYSELF AND GET MY HAIR DONE IN TIER 4?

A: Non-essential retail in Tier 4 will close including hairdressers, nail bars and indoor entertainment venues.

Q: MAYBE I CAN ESCAPE AND GO ABROAD FOR CHRISTMAS?

A: No. Travel abroad is restricted for essential work only.

Q: CAN I GO TO CHURCH?

A: Yes. You can go to church. Communal worship is okay.

Q: WHAT ABOUT WATCHING THE FOOTBALL ON BOXING DAY?

A: Fans are not allowed inside grounds in Tiers 3 and 4 so you will have to stay inside and watch the telly.

Q: CAN I MOVE HOUSE?

A: Yes, you can still move house, but only if it has already been arranged.

Q: WHAT IF EVERYONE WAS TO IGNORE THE RESTRICTIONS?

A: Infections would soar, hospitals would be overwhelmed and thousands more would lose their lives.

Q: WILL I BE STOPPED BY POLICE IF I DISOBEY?

A: Yes. It is against the law to break the Tier rules.

Q: HOW LONG DO THESE RESTRICTIONS LAST?

A: Tier 4 came into effect at 00.01 this morning and will be reviewed on December 30.

Q: GREAT, SO WE CAN GO OUT FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE THEN?

A: No. Tier restrictions will not be eased for New Year’s Eve parties.

Q: WHAT ABOUT WALES?

A: First Minister Mark Drakeford ordered a national lockdown which came into force at midnight and will only be relaxed on Christmas Day.

Q: AND SCOTLAND?

A: Covid restrictions will only be relaxed for one day at Christmas and mainland Scotland will be placed under the tightest restrictions from Boxing Day, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced.

Q: SO IS THE NEW STRAIN MORE DEADLY?

A: Experts say it is increasing the R rate, which currently stands between 1.1 and 1.2 by a further by 0.4.

Infections are doubling every seven days in some areas, according to Prof Chris Whitty yesterday.

Q: WHERE IS IT SPREADING?

A: The virus was first seen in Kent and London in September.

By last month in London it accounted for 28 per cent of Covid cases in the South East and 62 per cent by December 9.

Q: WHEN DID THIS BECOME A MAJOR CONCERN?

A: After new data shown to the Government on Friday afternoon revealed the extent of the spread.

The virulent new strain is blamed for a surge in hospitalisation and a hike in positive cases in London.

Q: WILL I STILL GET MY NEWSPAPER?

A: The Sun and others will continue to print in all Tiers.

Q: IS COVID STILL DEADLY?

A: Government figures show the number of Covid-19 cases yesterday hit 27,052 and 534 people died within 28 days of a positive test.

Q: IS THIS THE WORST MOMENT OF THE VIRUS?

A: Sir Patrick Vallance says it is not the worst moment as the virus is controllable and vaccines are being rolled out.

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Q: IS THERE SOME GOOD NEWS?

A: Over 350,000 people have now had the first dose of the vaccine.

Q: AND THERE IS HOPE?

A: Boris said yesterday: “We know the vaccine is arriving, things will be radically different by Easter.”

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