Indoor socialising could still be banned after lockdown ends in England

Indoor socialising could be banned throughout winter, even if England’s national lockdown is lifted.

The tiered system of restrictions will need to be changed to prevent indoor socialising over winter, according to one of the government’s key scientific advisers.

What did they say?

Medical director of Public Health England, Susan Hopkins, said ministers need to look at strengthening the tiered system.

Dr Hopkins, who is also chief medical adviser to NHS Test and Trace, said the Tier 1 restrictions, which were the baseline of restrictions, had “very little effect.”

She commented, “As we start seeing cases decline, then we can start making a judgement about what are the right decisions that we make and what are the opening up decisions that happen on December 2.”

Dr Hopkins noted that Tier 3 of the local restrictions had proven to be relatively effective, and Tier 2 had been successful in some areas, though not so much in others.