How to find out which coronavirus restriction tier your postcode area is in

The government has released its postcode checker which allows people to see which coronavirus restrictions currently apply in their area.

People can type their postcode into the government website to find out which alert level their borough council area is subject to.

It comes after Boris Johnson introduced the three-tier local lockdown system for England on Monday.

It means each area has a COVID-19 alert level: medium, high and very high, which are also referred to as Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 respectively.

Watch: All you need to know about the new Covid alert levels

After typing in a postcode, a new screen will appear showing which alert level applies to that area, with users then able to click on a link providing a full list of “what you can and cannot do”.

The postcode checker is a key feature of the new three-tier system, with Johnson himself admitting the government’s previous local lockdown strategy was “complex to understand and to enforce”.

The rules can be summarised as follows...

In medium areas, which is currently most of the country, the government’s standard national restrictions apply. These include the “rule of six”, which limits most indoor and outdoor social gatherings to six people, and the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants.

In high areas, which are mainly those previously under local restrictions, household mixing has been banned indoors.

In very high areas – which is currently only the Liverpool City Region – household mixing has been banned indoors, and outdoors at private gardens and hospitality venues. Pubs have been ordered to close, unless they can operate as a restaurant.

The government can also choose to close further venues, as long as local leaders agree.

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