Bracknell will go back into one of three tougher tiers of Covid restrictions from next week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced how the three-tier system will look when the national lockdown in England ends on December 2.

We will find out which tier Bracknell and other Berkshire areas are in on Thursday.

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Mr Johnson said mass rapid testing and vaccines “will ultimately making these restrictions obsolete” and he hopes the need for a lockdown will be redundant by Spring.

What will change from December 2? – a snapshot 

  • Gyms and non-essential shops can re-open in all areas
  • Fans allowed at live outdoor and indoor sports events (none allowed in tier three)
  • Pubs and restaurants will have to stop serving at 10pm but customers will have until 11pm to finish their food and drink and leave the venue
  • Outdoor grassroots sports will return
  • Mass testing will be introduced in all areas in tier three
  • Most areas will be put in the higher tiers – high risk or very high risk – with details about which tier each area is in coming on Thursday

Rule of six

Up to six people from different households will still be able to meet inside in tier one.

The rule of six will only apply outside in tier two, as before.

But, in tier two, pubs will only be able to sell alcohol with a ‘substantial’ meal and, in tier three, pubs and restaurants will only be open for takeaway and delivery.

Sport, religious services, weddings and shops

One of the biggest announcements was the return of audiences at live sports events, with up to 4,000 to be allowed at events in tier one, and up to 2,000 at tier two events.

There will be no public attendance allowed at tier three events.

Meanwhile, the ban on outdoor grassroots sport will also be lifted and gyms will be allowed to re-open in all three tiers.

Additionally, non-essential shops will be able to open up again, religious services will be allowed to resume in all tiers and weddings can be held again.

However, cinemas, hairdressers and salons will be closed in tier three.

Testing and isolation changes

The PM also gave an update on testing, which included announcements on an end to self-isolation for contacts of those who catch the virus.

Mass testing will be introduced in all tier three areas from next week.

And from January, close contacts of those who test positive for Covid will not have to self-isolate for 14 days but will instead be tested every day for a week and only have to isolate if they test positive.

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Testing will also be rolled out for care home visitors across England from next month – with every care home resident able to have two visitors tested twice a week.

It means people who live in care homes will be able to hug relatives by the end of the year, Mr Johnson has said.

The travel quarantine is also set to be relaxed, but will come at a cost.

British families will be able to visit high-risk countries and return without quarantining for the full 14 days, if they return a negative test on the fifth day, but will have to pay for the test.

Christmas

The three-tier rules could last until Spring but they are expected to be relaxed across the UK over a short Christmas period, which could be between five and seven days long.

An update on Christmas is expected tomorrow.