Tier 3 Residents Could Visit Pubs And Meet More Friends If They Test Negative For Covid
People who live in England’s tier 3 Covid areas could be free to visit pubs, football matches and mix with more friends and family if they provide two negative tests, under new government plans.
In a bid to offer the public and MPs a glimpse of a possible way out of the “very high risk” areas, the latest “community testing” guide for local councils suggests that individuals who take rapid tests could enjoy tier 2-style freedoms.
The idea, which appears to be the first attempt to flesh out Boris Johnson’s own “moonshot” proposal of extra privileges for those who can show they don’t have the virus, could be trialled in local areas if councils take it up.
A government document, “Community Testing: A Guide For Local Delivery”, published on Monday night, states that new 30-minute lateral flow tests offer the “potential to relax restrictions on a limited basis for those who test negative”.
The guidance says that the pilot schemes would need approval of local directors of public health, national health advisors and health secretary Matt Hancock, but work has already started to prepare national regulations for it.
“Work is underway to rapidly assess options in this space, including the potential to allow the relaxation of tier 3 restrictions down to those normally at tier 2 for a time limited period for those who have two negative test results,” the document says.
“For example, the ability to meet friends and family in groups of six outdoors, the ability to visit venues (such as hospitality venues, indoor entertainment, accommodation) which are otherwise closed at tier 3, and/or the ability to attend large events (such as elite sport, live performances).”
From Wednesday pubs, restaurants and hotels will have to keep their doors closed in tier 3 areas, which will cover 23 million people.
But hospitality firms in tier 2, including London, will be allowed to reopen. Residents will also be allowed to meet outdoors in groups of upto six...