Guildford drinkers enjoy their last night in Tier 2

Drinkers in the Home Counties embarked on their final evening out tonight before Tier 3 restrictions are imposed at midnight – as those elsewhere hit the streets again after it was confirmed they would remain under looser lockdown rules.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday plunged numerous counties into the ‘very high alert’ top tier of coronavirus restrictions, with 70 per cent of England set to be under the toughest rules from tomorrow.

These areas include Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Peterborough, the whole of Hertfordshire, Surrey with the exception of Waverley, Hastings and Rother on the Kent border of East Sussex, Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant in Hampshire.  

Under the measures, people are not allowed to meet socially indoors, including in venues such as pubs and restaurants, with anyone outside of their support bubble or from another household. 

Those in Guildford made the most of their final moments of freedom tonight, with Britons seen heading to bars and restrautants with their friends and family. The town will move from Tier 2 to Tier 3 at midnight alongside the majority of Surrey. 

Pictured: Revellers head for a night out in York on Friday after it was announced the city will remain under Tier 2 restrictions

In York, which will also remain in Tier 2 ahead of a review of restrictions on December 30, partygoers donned festive attire as they dressed up for a night out on Friday

In York, which will also remain in Tier 2 ahead of a review of restrictions on December 30, partygoers donned festive attire as they dressed up for a night out on Friday

Drinkers across the Home Counties embarked on their final evening out tonight before Tier 3 restrictions are imposed at midnight - as those in York hit the streets again after it was confirmed the city would remain under looser lockdown rules. Pictured: Guildford tonight

Drinkers across the Home Counties embarked on their final evening out tonight before Tier 3 restrictions are imposed at midnight – as those in York hit the streets again after it was confirmed the city would remain under looser lockdown rules. Pictured: Guildford tonight

Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday plunged numerous counties into the 'very high alert' top tier of coronavirus restrictions amid soaring number of infections across Britain, with 70 per cent of England set to be under the toughest rules from tomorrow

Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday plunged numerous counties into the ‘very high alert’ top tier of coronavirus restrictions amid soaring number of infections across Britain, with 70 per cent of England set to be under the toughest rules from tomorrow

Those in Guildford made the most of their final moments of freedom tonight, with Britons seen heading to bars and restrautants with their friends and family. The town will move from Tier 2 to Tier 3 at midnight alongside the majority of Surrey

Those in Guildford made the most of their final moments of freedom tonight, with Britons seen heading to bars and restrautants with their friends and family. The town will move from Tier 2 to Tier 3 at midnight alongside the majority of Surrey

Pictured: Those in Guildford enjoy a final night of drinking before the majority of Surrey enters Tier 3 at midnight tonight

Pictured: Those in Guildford enjoy a final night of drinking before the majority of Surrey enters Tier 3 at midnight tonight

Swathes of the Home Counties will join London in the highest tier tomorrow while Manchester and the North East were told they could not move down a grade despite recording fewer cases

Swathes of the Home Counties will join London in the highest tier tomorrow while Manchester and the North East were told they could not move down a grade despite recording fewer cases

There were similar scenes in Liverpool, where revellers queued in the rain to enter clubs after it was confirmed the city would remain under Tier 2 restrictions for another fortnight. The Liverpool City Region has avoided a surge in coronavirus infections since national lockdown restrictions were eased on December 2.

And in York, which will also remain in Tier 2 ahead of another review of restrictions on December 30, partygoers donned festive attire as they dressed up for a night out on the last Friday before Christmas. 

It comes as the Department of Health recorded 28,507 new cases of the virus in the last 24 hours, up a third from the 21,672 last Friday, and 489 deaths, a rise of 14 per cent from a week ago.

Meanwhile, SAGE now estimates the Covid R rate – the average number of others infected by each person with the disease – is between 1.1 and 1.2 in the UK. It is the first time the reproductive number has definitely been above the crucial mark since the first week of the national lockdown last month.

It comes as the Department of Health recorded 28,507 new cases of the virus in the last 24 hours, up a third from the 21,672 last Friday, and 489 deaths, a rise of 14 per cent from a week ago. Pictured: York tonight

It comes as the Department of Health recorded 28,507 new cases of the virus in the last 24 hours, up a third from the 21,672 last Friday, and 489 deaths, a rise of 14 per cent from a week ago. Pictured: York tonight

There were similar scenes in Liverpool (pictured), where revellers queued in the rain to enter clubs after it was confirmed the city would remain under Tier 2 restrictions for another fortnight

There were similar scenes in Liverpool (pictured), where revellers queued in the rain to enter clubs after it was confirmed the city would remain under Tier 2 restrictions for another fortnight

The Liverpool City Region has avoided a surge in coronavirus infections since national lockdown restrictions were eased on December 2

The Liverpool City Region has avoided a surge in coronavirus infections since national lockdown restrictions were eased on December 2

Pictured: People drink in the rain in Windsor tonight before new Tier 3 restrictions come into force at midnight tonight

Pictured: People drink in the rain in Windsor tonight before new Tier 3 restrictions come into force at midnight tonight

SAGE now estimates the Covid R rate - the average number of others infected by each person with the disease - is between 1.1 and 1.2 in the UK. Pictured: Windsor tonight

SAGE now estimates the Covid R rate – the average number of others infected by each person with the disease – is between 1.1 and 1.2 in the UK. Pictured: Windsor tonight

Pictured: Britons wait in the rain to enter a pub in Windsor, Berkshire after it was announced the town will enter Tier 3

Pictured: Britons wait in the rain to enter a pub in Windsor, Berkshire after it was announced the town will enter Tier 3

In England the rate stands even higher at between 1.1 and 1.3, while experts warned it might be as high as 1.4 in the East, and 1.3 in both London and the South East. Last week, Britain’s R number – which doesn’t represent today’s outbreak – was between 0.9 and 1. 

London was plunged under Tier 3 rules on Wednesday, after Mr Hancock told a Downing Street briefing that action had to be taken to slow ‘sharp, exponential rises’ in infection rates. 

The streets of the capital were largely abandoned tonight, with ‘sorry we’re closed’ signs adorning the doors of typically bustling venues in Soho.

The Met Police has vowed to crack down on anti-lockdown protests in London over the last weekend before Christmas, as organisers claim ‘many thousands’ will demonstrate in Parliament Square tomorrow. 

The force said extra officers will be on the capital city’s streets to encourage compliance with strict Tier 3 Covid-19 regulations and to ‘swiftly clamp down on those wilfully and dangerously ignoring them’.

London was plunged under Tier 3 rules on Wednesday, after Mr Hancock told a Downing Street briefing that action had to be taken to slow 'sharp, exponential rises' in infection rates. Pictured: Soho tonight

London was plunged under Tier 3 rules on Wednesday, after Mr Hancock told a Downing Street briefing that action had to be taken to slow ‘sharp, exponential rises’ in infection rates. Pictured: Soho tonight

The Met Police has vowed to crack down on anti-lockdown protests in London over the last weekend before Christmas, as organisers claim 'many thousands' will demonstrate in Parliament Square tomorrow. Pictured: Soho tonight

The Met Police has vowed to crack down on anti-lockdown protests in London over the last weekend before Christmas, as organisers claim ‘many thousands’ will demonstrate in Parliament Square tomorrow. Pictured: Soho tonight

The force said extra officers will be on the capital city's streets to encourage compliance with strict Tier 3 Covid-19 regulations and to 'swiftly clamp down on those wilfully and dangerously ignoring them'

The force said extra officers will be on the capital city’s streets to encourage compliance with strict Tier 3 Covid-19 regulations and to ‘swiftly clamp down on those wilfully and dangerously ignoring them’

Scotland Yard issued an open letter published on the Met Police’s website ahead of the demonstration expected tomorrow, with others also planned around England  

The force asked people not to attend any large gathering and warned they may be at risk of committing a criminal offence if they do.

Gatherings of more than six outdoors are illegal under coronavirus rules, although there is a list of exemptions which includes protests where all relevant safety precautions are in place.

What are the Tier 3 rules?

  • Indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas, theatres and bowling alleys must close;
  • Pubs, restaurants and cafes must close except for takeaway;
  • Shops and hairdressers and salons will be allowed to remain open;
  • Groups of six will be allowed to meet outdoors only;
  • Crowds at live events will be banned;
  • People should avoid travelling out of, or into, Tier 3 areas unless it is unavoidable;
  • People from separate households cannot meet indoors and the rule of six applies outside.

The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers in England and Wales, earlier this week wrote to Home Secretary Priti Patel highlighting the health risks to those policing protests.

National chairman John Apter and Met Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh described the Christmas footfall coupled with a mass demonstration as a potentially ‘deadly and unmanageable mix’.

The Met said the force will focus on disrupting large gatherings adding that protest organisers must stick to Government regulations as well as their submitted risk assessment.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: ‘Where we become aware of planned events that will breach regulations, we will try to engage with organisers or venues to make them fully aware of the restrictions that are in place to keep people safe.

‘However, if people do not listen to our advice and fail to comply with the rules, we will be forced to take enforcement action.

‘With infection rates rising rapidly across the capital, we all need to play our part in preventing the spread of the virus.

‘This is the final weekend before Christmas, so now is not the time for complacency. 

‘I know Londoners know what they should and should not be doing and I would urge everyone to act sensibly and do their part to keep our city safe.

‘Sticking to the guidelines put in place to keep us all safe and well is now more important than ever.

‘This weekend we will ensure we deal with the activity of a few so as not to expose our communities at even greater risk during this pandemic.’

Some 11 people were arrested after a demonstration by about 200 protesters in London’s Parliament Square on Monday for alleged offences including breach of Covid-19 regulations, Public Order Act offences and assaulting an emergency worker.

During the second national lockdown at the end of November more than 150 people were arrested as activists marched from Hyde Park to Oxford Circus and Regent Street, clashing with police.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk