Tier Four restrictions could be here to stay for the foreseeable future, following Basingstoke and Deane being placed into the highest level of restrictions today.

The Telegraph reports that the top level of restrictions could be imposed until close to Easter, which falls on April 4 this year.

Furthermore, restrictions may be toughened, with the closure of schools not ruled out by the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock.

Following the decision to place large areas of the country, including London, into Tier Four restrictions on December 16, the level of Covid regulations for each local authority area is under review every two weeks.

The next decision was due to be made on December 30, but at a briefing on December 23, the Health Secretary announced that more of the country, including Basingstoke and Deane, would follow other areas into Tier Four. A review of restrictions is still due at the end of December, but is unlikely to see an easing of restrictions in the borough.

Decisions will continue to be made on the restrictions every two weeks by the government until January 27, when the rules will need to be voted on again by Parliament. If the rules are not passed by MPs, then the entire tier system will cease.

When the system was introduced, 55 Conservatives MPs opposed the plans, as did a number of MPs from the Labour Party – the rest of which abstained from the vote. One of the MPs voting no, Mark Harper, said that the government needed “a clear exit strategy from this nightmarish, cycle of damaging lockdowns.” Whether those opposed to the restrictions will garner support to defeat the government remains to be seen.

For now, Basingstoke and Deane remains in Tier Four. Under the rules, members of the public are subject to a number of stringent restrictions.

They are:

  • Those in Tier Four cannot mix indoors with anyone not from their household or support bubble. Christmas bubbles have been scrapped for these areas.
  • A stay-at-home order will be issued to residents in Tier Four, with only work and education exempt.
  • Tier Four residents can only meet one person from outside their household in an open public space.
  • All non-essential retail will have to close, as well as gyms and leisure facilities. Worship can still take place.
  • People will be advised not to travel into a Tier Four area.