As part of Cheshire West and Chester, Frodsham and Helsby will be placed into Tier 4 from 00:01 tonight, the Health Secretary has announced.

Local residents join the three quarters of the national population who are now under the most severe restrictions.

Speaking in the Commons this afternoon, Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said: "We must act to surpress the virus now. While we have the good news of the vaccine today, there are over 2,100 people in hospital with Covid-19 right now.

"The threat to life is real. This new variant is now spreading across England."

The 'Stay at Home' alert level is now in place, meaning that non-essential retail must close.

In Tier 4, people cannot meet indoors with anyone outside their household or support bubble. However, they may socialise in public outdoor spaces with their household, support or childcare bubble, or with one other person.

Public outdoor spaces include:

• parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests
• public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)
• allotments
• the grounds of a heritage site
• outdoor sports courts and facilities
• playgrounds

Children under five, and up to two carers for a disabled person, are not counted towards the total number of people.

In general, people must not leave their home or garden without a 'reasonable excuse'.

'Reasonable excuses' include:

• Going to work or to perform voluntary services if you cannot work from home.
• Shopping for essential supplies
• Picking up takeaways or click-and-collect orders
• Accessing critical public services
• Going to school or any other necessary supervised activities for children
• Providing informal childcare or care for vulnerable people
• Visiting outdoor spaces or sports facilities for exercise.
• Going to get a Covid-19 test
• Honouring medical appointments
• Being with someone who is giving birth
• Avoiding injury or illness or to escape the risk of harm
• Visiting someone who is dying
• Visiting a place of communal worship

People under Tier 4 restrictions may not travel outside of their area unless they are going to work, school, hospital, medical appointments or to fulfil caring obligations. People may also visit and stay overnight with members of their support bubble.

Full details of the new restrictions can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Neighbouring local authorities in Warrington and Greater Manchester will also move into Tier 4, while Liverpool is placed in Tier 3.

Those breaking the restrictions outlined on this page may be subject to fixed penalty notices. Beginning at £200 for a first offence, these can range up to £10,000 for an illegal gathering of over 30 people.