A new graph has revealed how close each area is to being moved out of their current tier restrictions.

England will leave its second nationwide lockdown on December 2 and a ‘strengthened’ tier system will be reintroduced.

This week the government confirmed which areas would face the harshest restrictions, with 99% of England facing tough rules in tier two or three.

Public Health England has now released a graph as part of their Situation Report, which shows how areas rank among the boundaries for each tier.

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The horizontal axis plots the most recent weekly case rate per 100,000 people up to November 19, with the vertical axis plotting the equivalent case rate from the week before.

The Humber is at the top of the chart, making it the furthest away from being removed from tier three, while Kent, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull are only just outside of tier two.

Shropshire, Cheshire and Liverpool are among those in the highest end of tier two, followed by Worcestershire, North Yorkshire and Cumbria. At the bottom, in tier one, are Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly.

Alongside the graph, the report states: ‘This chart shows some decreases in weekly case rates in the north of England, and other areas where case rates are high but declining.

‘Continued improvement over the coming period may make these areas candidates for de-escalation in the New Year.’

Health Secretary Matt Hancock previously confirmed the December tier system would be reviewed on December 16. Restrictions will then be eased for a short period over Christmas, with families able to form a bubble with three other households from December 23 to 27.

Earlier today Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said there was ‘every reason’ to expect some areas to be moved out of tier three during the first review of the restrictions.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: ‘At that point we – advised by the experts – will look at each local authority area and see whether there is potential to move down the tiers.

‘There were a number of places which were quite finely balanced judgments where they were on the cusp of different tiers. Those are the places that are more likely to be in that position.’

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