What Does Tier Three Lockdown for Manchester Actually Mean?

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20 October 2020

As Greater Manchester moves into the highest tier of lockdown restrictions, we look at what this actually means for residents and businesses.

Manchester will move to a "very high" alert level (tier three) meaning that pubs and bars not serving food must close, and household mixing indoors or outdoors will be banned.

A deadline of midday today (20 October) was set for a deal to be struck between the government and local Manchester leaders on COVID restrictions, but no deal was met.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to address the nation in a televised speech at 5pm.

Restrictions on Household Mixing

It is not yet known when the tier three restrictions will come into effect, but the government has already published extensively on what kind of measures can be expected:

• You must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting unless they are part of your household or support bubble. This includes both indoors and outdoors in private homes, hospitality venues, or outdoor public venues.
• You still see friends and family you do not live with (or have formed a support bubble with) in groups of 6 or less in certain outdoor public spaces, such as: parks, beaches, countryside, forests, public gardens and allotments, outdoor sports courts and facilities, and playgrounds.
• There are several exemptions to the rule of six, where more people can meet in a group, including for birth partners, to visit someone who is dying, to move house and for outdoor exercise and dance classes, organised outdoor sport and licensed outdoor physical activity. A full list can be found here.
• Pubs and bars must close unless they are serving “substantial meals”, like a main lunchtime or evening meal.

Business Rules and Going to Work

Office workers who can work effectively from home are being asked to do so over the winter. 

Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary.

Anyone else who cannot work from home should go to their place of work. There are also extra restrictions on businesses and venues such as:

• Certain businesses selling food or drink on their premises are required to close between 10pm and 5am.
• Businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through.
• Hospitality venues in ports, on transport services and in motorway service areas do not need to close at 10pm, but must not serve alcohol after that time.
• Pubs and bars must close; they can only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant - which means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal; they may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal.
• Businesses and venues that fail to comply with these restrictions may face fines of up to £10,000, prosecution, or in some cases closure.

Transport and Travel

Residents of Manchester will be able to continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, for work, or to access education, within a very high alert level area.

However they “should and aim to reduce the number of journeys” they make. 

The government is also advising people not to travel into or out of very high alert level areas, although you can continue to travel into or out of very high alert level areas if you need to for work, education, to access youth services or because of caring responsibilities.

Picture: a photograph of Salford Quays

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 20 October 2020

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