What tier is Eastbourne in and what does it mean for you? All you need to know.

The town will stay in the high alert tier after an announcement from the government this morning (Thursday).

There had been concerns Eastbourne would be moved into Tier 3, the higher alert tier, due to infection rates soaring in nearby Hastings and Rother.

Eastbourne council leader David Tutt welcomed the news.

He said, “I am pleased the government has recognised that the rate of Covid infection remains below the national average and have not moved us into Tier 3. This is very imprortant for local businesses, especially our hospitality sector which has been hit so hard by the pandemic.

“We do of course need to recognise that the Covid-19 virus has not gone away and need to ensure we continue to observe social distancing and the other measures which help to protect us.”

In Tier 2:

you must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place

you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 people outside, including in a garden or a public space – this is called the ‘rule of 6’

businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs

pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals

hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:

provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol

close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)

stop taking orders after 10pm

hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through

early closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm

public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors

public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50 per cent capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors

places of worship remain open but you must not socialise with people from outside of your household or support bubble while you are indoors there, unless a legal exemption applies

weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events such as wakes or stonesettings.

organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue

organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing

you can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible

if you live in a Tier 2 area, you must continue to follow Tier 2 rules when you travel to a Tier 1 area. Avoid travel to or overnight stays in Tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through a Tier 3 area as a part of a longer journey