The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, has just set out where each region falls in the three-tier system in England. He has confirmed that Devon will be placed into Tier 2 (High) from the 2nd December when the current lockdown ends.
Devon’s latest rate is 121/ 100,000.
Please see the attached poster for what being in Tier 2 means for residents in Totnes and South Devon.
While I am pleased to see that our shops, restaurants, hotels, leisure centres and places of worship can reopen I am disappointed to see South Devon placed at tier 2. Our work throughout the year to keep the virus at bay has allowed us to recoup some of our losses from the first lockdown and our current rate appears to be decreasing.
I understand that the tier system will be reviewed every two weeks and that by then I hope Devon as a whole will be in a better place to enter tier one.
You should note that the Christmas guidance is as follows:
Between 23 and 27 December:
- you can form an exclusive ‘Christmas bubble’ composed of people from no more than three households
- you can only be in one Christmas bubble
- you cannot change your Christmas bubble
- you can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble
- you can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces
- you can continue to meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier where you are staying
- you cannot meet someone in a private dwelling who is not part of your household or Christmas bubble
You should travel to meet those in your Christmas bubble and return home between the 23 and 27 December. Anyone travelling to or from Northern Ireland may travel on the 22 and 28 December.
You can find further guidance on Christmas here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-a-christmas-bubble-wi…
Despite today’s frustrating and difficult announcement there is light at the end of the tunnel, and I am pleased that the vaccination programme is being rolled out and that soon residents across South Devon will be able receive a vaccination and return to normal.
I will continue to work with businesses and individuals to ensure that you receive the support and assistance you need as we battle through Covid-19.
In the meantime, please continue to look after yourselves, and each other, by observing the basic HANDS - FACE - SPACE guidance and following the Tier 2 restrictions as outlined above.
