More Radio Wishes Listeners And Readers Merry Christmas!

Friday, 25 December 2020 06:00

By Iona Stewart-Richardson @IslandIona

The team at More Radio are wishing its listeners and readers a very happy Christmas.

...And a happy New Year for 2020!

Sussex could see wind gusts of up to 70mph as the Met Office warns of strong winds tomorrow on Boxing Day (Saturday), as previously reported.

Brighton's emergency weather shelter will remain open for rough sleepers from Xmas Eve to Boxing Day, as previously reported.

All of Sussex is to enter Tier 4 coronavirus transmission restrictions, from 00:01 on Boxing Day, December 26.

The Health Secretary made the announcement from Downing Street on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the creation of Tier 4 on Saturday - the toughest level of regional restrictions intended to clamp down on COVID-19 hotspots.

It came after a new coronavirus variant was credited with pushing infection numbers to record high levels.

Questions remain over whether Tier 4 will be enough to stop the growth of COVID-19.

Prof Neil Ferguson, a government adviser whose modelling contributed to the first national lockdown, said while schools were closed he had:

"...more confidence" the R number - the average number of people someone with coronavirus passes it on to - could come back under 1.

"But we will see really what will happen in the next two weeks.

"If we - hopefully as we will do - see a significant decline in the case numbers both of the variant and non-variant it will offer us greater confidence going into the new year that maybe Tier 4 might be sufficient.

"If we don't, of course we're in a more difficult situation."

In summary, Tier 4 restrictions, applying to all Sussex from 00:01 from Boxing Day, December 26, are:

Stay at home - this will be put into law so fines will apply if you do not have a relevant excuse
Exemptions include people needing to travel for education, childcare and exercise
Unlimited exercise allowed outdoors
Do not enter Tier 4 areas from other areas and do not leave Tier 4
Tier 4 residents must not stay overnight away from home
Work from home if you can
Gyms closed
Non-essential retail closed
Indoor leisure closed
Indoor entertainment closed
Personal care sector closed
Communal worship can take place
One person can meet just one other person from another household outside - exemptions for support and childcare bubbles
Do not travel abroad apart from if needed for work

The police can take action against you if you meet in larger groups. This includes breaking up illegal gatherings and issuing fines (fixed penalty notices).

You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400. If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of over 30 people, the police can issue fines of £10,000.