In an address to MPs live in the House of Commons, Mr Johnson has announced a new set of targeted restrictions – which have been the topic of widespread speculation over the past week or so and particularly today – for cities and towns in England in an attempt to control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Each tier under the newly-announced system has its own set of rules determined by an alert level: ‘medium’ (Tier 1) ‘high’ (Tier 2), or ‘very high’ (Tier 3).
Mr Johnson said that he does not want to go into a second full national lockdown – including closing schools and businesses and telling people to stay at home – as this would not be “the right course”. He did however say that letting the virus “rip” would lead to an “intolerable death toll” and the NHS would be under such a strain that medics wouldn’t be able to devote themselves to treating other ailments.
“We must act to save lives, and the evidence shows in changing our behaviour… our actions are saving lives.” he said.
Speaking to BBC News ahead of the announcement, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said officials in the area were “glad that government has listened”.
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“We had no evidence that hospitality was the primary course of spread in our city region,” he said.
“However, it’s important to say that any restrictions will choke off trade to our pubs, restaurants, even our shops. So, any restrictions must come with a full economic support package otherwise we are going to see a risk of redundancies and business failure running up to Christmas.”
He continued by stating that he feels that Tier 2 is “still a major restriction” for Greater Manchester.
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Mr Johnson confirmed that the three tier system and the whole package of measures will also be voted on in parliament before coming into force.
Here’s how each of the three tiers work:
Tier 1
Areas that fall into Tier 1 – which Mr Johnson said “will cover most of the country” – will see residents living in these areas required to adhere to national restrictions.
This includes the “rule of six”, the 10pm curfew, and social distancing measures.
Tier 2
Tier 2 will cover areas where interventions are already in place – including in Greater Manchester – and will see all mixing between different households or support bubbles indoors stopped.
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The “rule of six” will apply outdoors, as well as in private gardens.
It has been confirmed that Nottinghamshire, Cheshire East and West, and High Peak will also move to the high alert level as part of Tier 2.
Tier 3
This is the highest alert level and will apply where transmission is rising rapidly and the NHS could be under “unbearable pressure”.
Tier 3 will see people banned from socialising with other households, both indoors and in private gardens, while bars and pubs will be closed, unless they can operate as restaurants. Residents will also be advised against travelling in and out of these areas, while it will be up local politicians as to whether other leisure venues such as gyms and casinos should also close.
However, non-essential shops, schools and universities will remain open.
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It has been confirmed that the Liverpool City Region is the first to be placed in Tier 3 and this comes after numbers have risen sharply in recent weeks, with Knowsley recording 944 cases per 100,000 people in the two weeks to 4th October (the highest in the country).
The restrictions for the Liverpool City Region will take effect from Wednesday.
Boris Johnson has announced his plan to "simplify and standardise" #COVID19 rules with a new three-tier alert system.
The First Tier will "cover most of the country" and includes most national measures, such as the rule of six and 10pm curfew.
A postcode checker will be launched on the government’s website to advise people what guidance applies to their area, and every local authority will be put in a Tier by the end of Monday.
In his final message to the country, Mr Johnson said: “The weeks and months ahead will continue to be difficult and will test the mettle of this country.”
But he adds: “I have no doubt at all that together we will succeed.”
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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Microdot exhibit for BRITs 2026: the artwork of Oasis, Verve and more up in Manchester Piccadilly
Danny Jones
If you’ve passed through Manchester Piccadilly of late, you might have noticed two things: one, it’s really quiet, and two, there’s loads of cool Britpop merch and memorabilia on display, including original Oasis, The Verve, Inspiral Carpets art and more – all courtesy of Microdot.
Set up as part of the city’s own BRITs celebrations, along with a raft of other nationwide festivities, as the annual music award ceremony prepares to make its Manc debut at the Co-op Live this month, the showcase features special edition frames and more, all pride of place in the middle of the train station.
This collection, simply entitled ‘A Microdot Design’, is all done by the legendary Brian Cannon, the graphic designer and art director behind so much recognisable visual material within the genre.
We recently had the honour of speaking to the man himself in person ahead of Piccadilly’s temporary closure; you can see our interview with him right here:
The Wigan-born artist and visionary didn’t just make promotional materials for some of the biggest bands in the 1990s; he’s responsible for what has gone on to become some of the most familiar iconography in British music history.
With this pop-up exhibit available for a limited time only, we strongly urge you to go along and, for once, take your time rather than rushing around the station as you peruse the boards placed right near the main entrance.
Charting his work from circa 1990 up until now, it’s crazy to see just how many of Brian and Microdot’s fingerprints are all over so many different bands and artists.
From native names like Oasis, The Verve and the Inspirals, as mentioned, as well as the likes of Cast, Super Furry Animals, Suede and Ash, plus so many more, this guy has been nothing short of prolific over the past few decades.
Audio North took a little tour of the King Street South unit last year in the lead-up to Oasis Live ’25 reunion world tour, and we felt like kids in a Britpop sweetshop.
While this site has sadly since closed, shutting up shop back in July, Brian’s mini, modest, but nevertheless magic Microdot Boutique up in the Lake District is still standing.
Located in the popular North West town and tourist attraction, Kendal, it’s worth a trip there to see more of his portfolio alone.
Currently on display at Manchester Piccadilly ahead of the full 2026 BRITs Week and shindig at Co-op Live, it’s one of the best completely free things you can do in town at the moment – but the exhibition finishes on Sunday, 1 March, so make sure you don’t miss it.
Speaking of the BRIT Awards, if you’re wondering what else is on as 0161 gets ready welcome them for their two-year stint (at least), look no further…
Two brothers from Oldham are beating out the likes of Taylor Swift in the iTunes charts
Danny Jones
A pair of brothers from Oldham who simply go by Two Connors are now holding on to the top spot in one of the biggest iTunes charts, and they’re beating the likes of Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny and many more.
Stuff your global music stars, we’ll back a duo from Greater Manchester all day long.
Danny and Callum Connor, a couple of blokes from Oldham in their mid-30s, are currently number one in the iTunes singles charts with their latest song, ‘Familiar Faces’, but this isn’t the first time they’ve gone big with a release online.
Carving out their own little corner not only in the old Lancashire borough but a small pocket in the UK’s wider grime, drill, rap and hip-hop scene, they’ve only gotten bigger over the last 18 months or so.
After releasing their first two tracks back in 2024, Callum and Danny have been on a very gradual rise, but they quickly gained a cult local following in and around Oldham.
Writing about life and around the area, with high personal and anecdotal lyrics that feel like niche references and in-jokes specifically for‘Roughyed’ residents – it’s not just music by them but FOR them.
In addition to recording their own unique cover of ‘Bad Habits’ by Ed Sheeran, they also went fairly viral for releasing a music video featuring crowds of local children.
Putting their own chant-based chorus slant on ‘Hi Ho, Hi Ho, “It’s off to Work We Go”‘, written by Mitch Miller and The Sandpipers (yes, as in the main theme from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), it was a fairly radio-friendly tune that was easy for kids and more to sing along with.
With various other natives getting involved in the music video, joining them on the town centre streets and lip-syncing the lyrics, it was circulated online all over Britain and beyond.
You can watch it in full down below.
Fast forward to February 2026, and not only have they grown their following across the region, but even further afield now, as it turns out; currently sitting ahead of ‘Opalite’ from worldwide smash-hit album, The Life of a Showgirl, who needs big label backing, eh?
Bringing smiles to even more Greater Mancs by quite literally shining the spotlight on ‘Familiar Faces’ and punters from nearby pubs such as The Up Stepps Inn and former nightclub Sruples, it is a real tribute to their homeland.
Only time will tell how long they’ll cling to that iTunes top spot, but with nearly 73,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and counting, they might be one of the biggest music names to come out of OL in some time.
In other big news over in Oldham, on the sporting side of things, RLFC are staring down yet more uncertainty, with local hero Bill Quinn also wrapping up his time at the club.
The Manc -
12th October 2020 
