As Peterborough’s Covid-19 infection rate matches London - will city move into Tier 3 this week?

The city is currently subjected to Tier Two lockdown measures which means:

- No household mixing with people not in your support bubble indoors

- The Rule of Six will apply outside

- Pubs and Restaurants to shut at 11pm and provide table service only

- Alcohol in pubs can only be served as part of a ‘substantial meal’

- Spectators allowed at sports events and live performances in limited numbers (2,000 for Peterborough United)

- Personal care including hairdressing is allowed.

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Ministers will announce on Wednesday, December 16 whether the spread of the virus has been controlled enough in Peterborough to alleviate the strain on hospitals to prevent the city moving up into Tier Three, which has been rumoured to be a possibility.

The lockdown tier review will confirm which level of restrictions areas across the country are under before they come into effect from Saturday.

What tier is Peterborough likely to be in?

Peterborough is currently in Tier 2, alongside the whole of Cambridgeshire. However, the average rate of coronavirus infections in the city has increased in recent weeks.

The current case rate is 239.8 cases per 100,000 people, based on data from the past seven days.

This compares to 242 for London which is moving into Tier 3 tomorrow.

In the latest round of tier changes the Government put whole regions together. So if the rates are still low in some parts of Cambridgeshire it could keep Peterborough from moving up to Tier 3.

The current case rate in Cambridgeshire is 81.7 per 100,000 people over the past week.

The next review after ministers announce the decision on Wednesday is due on December 30.

What are the Tier restrictions based on?

Decisions about what measures different areas are subjected to are based on five indicators according to the Department of Health.

Ministers analyse the following data:

– Case detection rates in all age groups;

– Case detection rates in the over-60s;

– The rate at which cases are rising or falling;

– The positivity rate – the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken

– Pressure on the NHS, including current and projected occupancy.

What are Tier 3 rules?

- You can’t mix indoors, in private gardens or in most outdoor venues, except with your household or bubble

- You can meet in a group of up to six in other outdoor spaces, such as parks, beaches or countryside

- Shops, gyms and personal care services (such as hairdressing) can stay open, as can swimming pools

- Bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants must stay closed, except for delivery and takeaway

- Sports fans cannot attend events in stadiums

- Indoor entertainment venues - such as bowling alleys and cinemas - must stay closed

- People are advised not to travel to and from Tier 3 areas.