The government has confirmed that Bolton, along with the rest of Greater Manchester, will move into Tier 4 of coronavirus restrictions from midnight tomorrow (Dec 31).
Bolton will join areas across England in this highest level of restrictions in response to a national rise in infections caused by a new variant of the COVID-19 virus.
Under the Tier 4, or “Stay at Home”, level of restrictions:
- You must stay at home, unless you have a “reasonable excuse” such as work, education, childcare or exercise
- All non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail bars and indoor entertainment venues must close
- Indoor gyms and swimming pools must also close
- You must not leave a Tier 4 area or travel abroad
- You can meet outdoors with one other person from outside your household (the “rule of six” does not apply)
- Communal worship can continue
A comprehensive list of FAQs, setting out the new restrictions and any exceptions, is available on the Bolton Council website.
As with previous restrictions, people should not meet indoors with anyone from outside their household and hospitality venues will be restricted to takeaway only.
Bolton Council’s Assistant Director of Public Health, Lynn Donkin, said:
“We need to do everything we can to support our local health and social care services to cope over the winter months.
“The Tier 4 restrictions that have been introduced to many areas, including Bolton, are going to be challenging, but we are urging everyone to follow the new rules.
“It is more important than ever to follow the prevention advice - wash your hands regularly, keep 2 metres apart from others, wear a face covering when out and about, and keep your home and workspace well ventilated.”
Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said:
"Nobody wants additional restrictions, but there was, I'm afraid, a degree of inevitability over today's announcement to move us into Tier 4.
“If it hadn't happened this week, it would have more than likely happened next. Although our rates are some of the lowest in Greater Manchester, they are fluctuating around 150/160 cases for every 100,000.
“They are not reducing and if we are to get to a position where businesses can reopen with any sense of permanence and sustainability, we need to get our rates down considerably lower than they currently are.
"We cannot allow our area to get to the position that London and the South East now find themselves in where they have more cases than some of their hospitals can cope with.
"But I will continue to press government for additional adequate support for businesses.
"It isn't all doom and gloom. We have the fantastic news today of another vaccine, and produced in this country.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel. But we must continue to follow the guidance in order to get our rates down, contain the variant as best we can and protect our hospitals from being overwhelmed."