These changes will take effect at 0.01am on Thursday 31st December.
Announcing the new classifications, Mr Hancock said: “Unfortunately, this new variant is now spreading across most of England and cases are doubling fast [and] it is therefore necessary to apply Tier 4 measures to a wider area, including the remaining parts of the South East, as well as large parts of the Midlands, the North West, the North East and the South West.”
Lancashire, Cheshire, Warrington, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen will also move from Tier 3 restrictions into Tier 4.
Liverpool City Region will move from Tier 2 restrictions into Tier 3, while Cumbria will from Tier 2 into Tier 4.
BREAKING: Health Secretary Matt Hancock says that three quarters of the population of England are now going to be in Tier 4 due to the spread of the second COVID variant.
The government decides which tier applies in each area based on a range of indicators, including:
Analysis of cases across all age groups
Analysis of cases in the over 60s
The rate by which cases are rising or falling
The percentage of those tested in local populations with COVID-19
Pressures on the NHS
The new restrictions will see Greater Manchester residents told to “stay at home”, but what exactly does tier 4 mean for the region?
What are we permitted to and not permitted to do when restrictions take effect from tomorrow?
Tier 4
People must not leave their home or garden unless they have a ‘reasonable excuse’, including where reasonably necessary for work, education, exercise or open air recreation, and essential activities such as medical appointments and to buy food.
People must not meet socially indoors, in a private garden or most outdoor public venues with anybody they do not live with or have a support bubble with.
Everyone who can work from home should do so.
People can see only one other person that they do not live with (or do not have a support bubble with) in certain public outdoor places – such as parks, public gardens, or outdoor sports facilities.
Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – six people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and six people can attend linked commemorative events.
Accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, holiday lets and guest houses must close, other than where very limited exceptions apply.
Hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha bars), pubs, cafes, restaurants, and social clubs must close except for takeaway, delivery, drive-through and click and collect services. Takeaway must cease between 11pm and 5am, but delivery, drive-through and click-and-collect may continue during this period. This includes restaurants and bars within hotels or members’ clubs.
Indoor entertainment venues, such as casinos, bowling alleys, and bingo halls must close, and cinemas, theatres, and concert venues must also close.
Certain outdoor venues, such as botanical gardens, heritage sites, and zoos and other animal attractions may stay open, although indoor elements at these attractions must also close.
All indoor leisure and sports facilities must close, except where a legal exemption exists, such as for the training of elite sportspersons.
The changes will move an additional 20 million people into Tier 4, meaning a total of 44 million people (78% of England’s population) will be in the toughest tier.
You can find more information regarding Tier 4 restrictions here.
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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.
#StayHome
News
Smoke billows across Manchester city centre as historic mill goes up in flames
Daisy Jackson
Smoke is billowing across the Manchester skyline this evening after a huge fire has struck the historic Hotspur Press building.
The former mill just off Whitworth Street West has gone up in flames, with smoke seen for miles.
People have been sharing pictures and videos of the blaze from all over the city centre.
The Hotspur Press stands just below the train lines between Manchester Oxford Road and Deansgate train station, meaning that the fire has caused significant travel disruption.
BREAKING 🚨 Huge fire in Manchester city centre right now – historic Hotspur Press is ablaze with major disruption to trains out of Oxford Road #manchester#mcrpic.twitter.com/SnA52oiqxm
Trains out of Manchester Oxford Road are currently all showing as delayed.
The building was set to be redeveloped into a student accommodation tower block, with a recent planning application requesting to change the original consented brick cladding to an aluminium façade. A large emergency services response is on the scene.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) told The Manc: “Firefighters are currently tackling a large fire at the derelict Hotspur Press building on Cambridge Street in Manchester. An evacuation of the neighbouring apartment buildings is taking place.
“The public are advised to stay away from the area while crews continue to tackle the fire.”
A further update from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service at around 7pm said: “Crews are working hard to tackle the fire at the Hotspur Press building. 20 fire engines from stations across Greater Manchester are at the scene, where three floors of the building are alight. Multiple jets and the air unit are in use to prevent the spread of the fire.
“All floors of the two apartment blocks at 1 Cambridge Street have been evacuated.”
National Rail has said: “There is a fire next to the track at Manchester Oxford Road, closing all lines at this station. As a result, trains may be cancelled, severely delayed by up to 100 minutes or revised.
“If you are travelling this evening, your train may not run its full route and may terminate / start from a different station.
“Please check before you travel as major disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day.”
As the police cordon has expanded, local businesses have been impacted – Bunny Jackson’s on First Street has been evacuated and is closed.
They shared: “We have had to evacuate due to a fire near by! We’re unsure of when we will be able to reopen. Safety first, folks!”
Plumes can be seen for miles, with residents in Salford, Hyde, Bolton, and further afield reporting sightings, including some even in Cheshire – fair to say it’s one of, if not the largest, fire in Manchester city centre for some time.
Witnesses have said that crowds are now being cleared from the area due to a risk of asbestos.
A witness at the scene told The Manc that a police officer wearing a mask was urging bystanders to exit the vicinity immediately, stating that “smoke is asbestos-contaminated because of the roof.”
If nearby, please keep away and urge others to stay safe.
Nearby apartments and buildings are being evacuated, and trains have been hit with heavy disruption due to Oxford Road station being in such close proximity.#GreaterManchesterpic.twitter.com/0mkxEJAj98
Government launches ‘urgent’ review into NHS maternity and neonatal care services
Emily Sergeant
A rapid national investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal services has been ordered by the Government.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting says this Government inherited a situation from the previous government where issues in maternity and neonatal care had been ‘ongoing for some time’, and now he wants to ‘provide truth and accountability’ to address systemic problems that date back more than 15 years.
Although a series of independent reviews into local trusts in the past had found some similar ‘failings’, including the failure to listen to women, concerns over safety, and issues with leadership and culture, this new national investigation will be going further than ever before.
The investigation will urgently look at the worst-performing maternity and neonatal services in the country, and bring together the findings of past reviews into one clear national set of actions.
The aim is to ensure every woman and baby receives high-quality and compassionate care, with the investigation consisting of two parts.
📢 National maternity and neonatal investigation to be launched
Too many families have suffered preventable harm.
The investigation will urgently look at services with specific issues and the entire maternity system, making sure each family receives safe and compassionate care. pic.twitter.com/J8XkwGM9dN
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) June 23, 2025
The first part will urgently investigate up to 10 of the ‘most concerning’ maternity and neonatal units across the country to give affected families the answers they deserve as quickly as possible.
The second will then undertake a system-wide look at maternity and neonatal care to bring together lessons from past inquiries to create one clear national set of actions to improve care across every NHS maternity service.
Alongside the launch of the national investigation today, the Government has also announced that it will be establishing a ‘National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce’ that’s set to be chaired by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and made up of a panel of esteemed experts and bereaved families.
The taskforce will mainly address several issues facing maternity care in England.
One area of focus will be addressing the devastating inequalities that women from Black, Asian and deprived backgrounds face, while another area will be a look at a lack of compassionate care and concerns over safety.
The Government has launched an ‘urgent’ review into NHS maternity and neonatal care services / Credit: Jimmy Conover (via Unsplash)
“I know nobody wants better for women and babies than the thousands of NHS midwives, obstetricians, maternity and neonatal staff,” commented Health Secretary Wes Streeting, as the urgent review was launched today. “And that the vast majority of births are safe and without incident, but it’s clear something is going wrong.
“That’s why I’ve ordered a rapid national investigation to make sure families get the truth and the accountability they deserve, and ensure no parent or baby is ever let down again.
“I want staff to come with us on this, to improve things for everyone.
“We‘re also taking immediate steps to hold failing services to account and give staff the tools they need to deliver the kind, safe, respectful care every family deserves.
“Maternity care should be the litmus test by which this Government is judged on patient safety, and I will do everything in my power to ensure no family has to suffer like this again.”
The Manc -
30th December 2020 
