More English areas go into tier three, Herefordshire moves to tier one

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has today confirmed that from 00:01 Saturday 19 December - the following areas will be placed into tier three:

• Bedfordshire
• Buckinghamshire
• Berkshire
• Peterborough
• The whole of Hertfordshire
• Surrey, except Waverley
• Hastings and Rother
• Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant

Speaking in the House of Commons today, Mr. Hancock said: "No one wants tougher restrictions any longer than neccesary," he says, adding that where they are neccessary they will be put in place to help ease pressure on the National Health Service."

He says cases are up 46% in the past week in the south-east of England and up by two-thirds in the east of England.

Elsewhere only two areas are now able to move down a tier as a result of falling infection rates.

It has been confirmed that from 00:01 Saturday 19 December Bristol and North Somerset will move into tier two.

Herefordshire will move from tier two to tier one.

On Wednesday all 32 London boroughs and the City of London, as well as parts of both Essex and Hertfordshire were moved to Tier 3 restrictions.

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