Dacorum remains in Tier Four restrictions as most of England added to same category

Dacorum and Hertfordshire will remain in the highest tier while most areas of England will join the same level of restrictions, it has been revealed.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement this afternoon (Wednesday) in the House of Commons.

Yesterday (Tuesday) saw 53,135 new coronavirus cases confirmed in the UK, with many attributed to a new strain of the virus - 414 deaths were also recorded.

Describing "the difficult decisions" that had to be made, Mr Hancock said all remaining parts of the South East, Midlands and North East of England, as well as parts of the North West, will enter Tier Four from one minute past midnight.

The mass roll-out of the Oxford/Astra vaccine is also due to begin on Monday, January 4.

Mr Hancock said: "From the beginning we focused on the vaccine as a way out of this pandemic and now it is a reality."

The guidelines for Tier Four are:

- Residents should stay at home, unless they have a 'reasonable excuse' such as work or education

- All non-essential shops must close

- Hairdressers and nail shops must close

- Indoor entertainment venues must close

- Gym and indoor swimming pools must close, indoor sport courts and dance studios must close

- You cannot meet other people indoors, unless you live with them, or they are part of your support bubble

- People should not leave tier 4 areas or travel abroad - except for limited reasons, including work and education

- Weddings and civil partnerships are only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

For more guidance visit: www.gov.uk/coronavirus.