Prime Minister’s statement – 12 October

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, delivered a statement to the House of Commons at 3.30pm on 12 October in which he outlined a new three tier system know as “local COVID alert levels”. In order to streamline and simplify local responses, the Government will introduce new COVID alert levels from Wednesday which are set at three levels:

• Medium – This is the lowest-risk tier and will mean continuing to live under the existing national restrictions, including the rule of six, current social distancing measures and the 10pm hospitality curfew.
• High – This level incorporates the existing measures, but primarily aims to reduce household to household transmission, by preventing all mixing between different households or support bubbles indoors. The rule of six will continue to apply outdoors. Most areas already subject to local restrictions will automatically move into the high alert level.
• Very high – The highest level will only apply where transmission rates are rising most rapidly. The Government will set a baseline of prohibiting social mixing indoors and in private gardens. Pubs and bars will be closed in these areas. Retail, schools and universities will remain open. Restrictions will last for four weeks at a time before they are reviewed. Local leaders will also be offered the opportunity to extend the baseline with their own measures.