Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, has welcomed the Government’s COVID Winter Plan, and has spoken in the House of Commons following the Prime Minister’s statement.
The 2nd December will see the end of national restrictions and England will return to local tiers. Shops, gyms, personal care salons and the leisure sector will all reopen. Weddings will be allowed to go ahead, as will collective worship and outdoor sports. The rule of six will apply where people meet in outdoor spaces.
Some restrictions will be amended – pubs will now be able to stay open until 11pm (with last orders at 10pm) and, in tiers one and two, spectator sport can resume with capacity limits to enable social distancing. In tier two, alcohol can only be served as part of a substantial meal and in tier three hospitality will remain closed except for deliveries and takeaways. Indoor entertainment venues, like cinemas, will also have to close. People in all tiers will still be encouraged to minimise travel and work from home where possible. Community testing will be rapidly extended in tier three areas.
The tiers will be reviewed every two weeks and the regulations will expire in law at the end of March.
You can read the full winter plan here, and see more information and the Prime Minister’s statement here, here and here.
Commenting, Richard said:
“I am really pleased that the Covid Winter Plan has been announced – it gives us all certainty about what we will be facing over the next few weeks. The Government’s plans for what will be allowed over Christmas will be published shortly.
“I know that many of my constituents will be delighted that gyms, golf courses and churches will be reopening and I will continue to work with both the local council and all my constituents to ensure that everyone has the support they need.
“I want to thank the Government for their continued hard work, and to thank my constituents for all that they continue to do to keep everyone safe.”
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