Wiltshire confirmed to remain in the COVID-19 Tier 2 'high alert' category

The Wiltshire Council local authority area has been confirmed as remaining in the COVID-19 Tier 2: High alert category, following a review by the Government, today Wednesday 23 December.

This means that the existing restrictions remain in place. These include:

• People must not socialise with anyone they do not live with or who is not in their support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place.
• People must also not socialise in a group of more than six people outside, including in a garden or public space.
• Businesses and venues can remain open in a COVID secure manner, other than those that are closed by law.
• Pubs and bars may not provide alcohol for consumption on the premises, unless with a substantial meal, so they are operating as a restaurant. They may remain open for takeaway services.
• Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to provide table service only. In premises that sell alcohol, they need to close between 11pm and 5am with some exemptions, and stop taking orders after 10pm.
• Hospitality venues that do not serve alcohol may allow someone to order from the counter, but they must still consume their meal from a seat if eating in.
• Education settings remain open.
• Council services, such as leisure centres and libraries, will remain open.
• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees - 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events.
• Outdoor street markets will continue to sell full range of items.
• Household Recycling Centres will remain open.
• Places of worship remain open, but people must not attend or socialise in groups of more than six people while there, unless there's a legal exemption.

More information on the Tier 2 restrictions can be found at GOV.UK: Guidance Tier 2: High alert.

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said:

We have seen a significant rise in COVID-19 cases so we all have to keep playing our part and support each other as much as possible. From 00.01 on Saturday, 26 December our neighbouring areas will be in the following Tiers:

Tier 3; Swindon, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire

Tier 4: West Berkshire

It is therefore vital that the people of Wiltshire stay local and shop local within Wiltshire in order to protect our local population.

For the latest information on COVID-19 and all the support available, and more information on the Tiers, people should visit our Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage. At this webpage people will also find information about the council's Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub, which in place to support people who have no network around them, and a directory of the community groups who are located throughout the county ready to provide support.