It has been announced that Lancashire will be staying in the tier-3 restrictions.

This is after a rise in coronavirus cases across many places in Lancashire.

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The seven-day average per 100,000 people has recently risen to 222.9 in Preston and 178.7 in South Ribble.

Read more: A ‘smaller Christmas’ urged as Preston coronavirus rate rises but South Ribble falls

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council said: “Unfortunately cases have not fallen to a sufficient degree to enable us to move down to Tier 2 and we’re especially concerned about rising case numbers in the over 60’s age group.

“As we live with these restrictions over the festive period I’d urge everyone to exercise caution if visiting loved ones to protect vulnerable people and reduce pressure on our health service. Winter is already a tough time for our NHS and any steps we can take to reduce the rate of infection will prevent our hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

“We want to be in a strong position to leave Tier 3 as early as possible in the New Year. Our challenge is do everything we can to continue to lower the rates, in order to fully reopen our high street and support our hospitality sector.”

Councillor Paul Foster, Leader of South Ribble Borough Council says remaining in tier-3 will be ‘devastating for the region’.

England’s overall average infection rate has also increased to 195.4.

Tier 3 restrictions include:

• you must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues
• you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the ‘rule of 6’
• hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.
• accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training 
• indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close
• leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should close
• large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events
• places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies
• weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events
• organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place
• organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s

All four nations of the UK agreed on the five-day relaxation of restrictions during Christmas (23-27 December).

Read more: Map shows mixed view for latest coronavirus figures in Preston and South Ribble

People will be able to form a bubble with three households over these five days so they can meet indoors.

However, some believe that this period should be reduced to three days to reduce the risk of infection rates going up.

Health secretary Matt Hancock told the Commons: “It’s so vital that everyone sticks at it and does the right thing, especially over this Christmas period.

“It’s important to remember that this can be a silent disease. One in three people who have the disease has no symptoms but can still pass it on.

“Everyone, therefore, has a personal responsibility to play their part in keeping this pandemic under control.”

The latest data shows that 25,161 people tested positive for coronavirus in the UK on 16 December.

See the latest coronavirus cases near you

304,360 tests were conducted and 612 people died from the virus.

In Preston 55 people tested positive for Covid-19.

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