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Tier 4 restrictions are now in place across a large chunk of southern England, including the capital London. The changes spell disaster for millions of people’s Christmas plans as a new variant of Covid-19 sweeps through parts of the UK.

Boris Johnson has announced a slew of new restrictions across London and other parts of England just days before Christmas.

Tier 4 restrictions came into force on December 20 following skyrocketing Covid-19 cases across the southeast of the UK.

Christmas relaxation guidelines, which were originally meant to cover a five day period, will now only apply on Christmas Day itself.

The implications of Tier 4 has not just spelt misery for those in the south but for those across the UK, as Christmas guidance has changed to allow households to mix on Christmas Day only.

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Transport minister Grant Shapps called on people under the new restrictions not to travel.

More British Transport Police officers were being deployed to ensure that “only those who need to take essential journeys can travel safely”, according to a statement.

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has branded those who left London last night to avoid being put under Tier 4 restrictions as being “totally irresponsible”.

He also said he expected new, tougher measures to last a long time, saying: “Essentially we’ve got to get that vaccine rolled out to keep people safe. Given how much faster this new variant spreads, it’s going to be very difficult to keep it under control until we have the vaccine rolled out.”

What are the travel restrictions for Tier 4?

Travelling in or out of a Tier 4 area is now banned unless there is an essential reason.

Government guidance does not permit Christmas travel as an essential reason to enter or leave.

You should only travel in or out of a Tier 4 area include support bubbles, childcare bubbles and children whose parents are separated. 

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People will be allowed to travel for education, childcare and to go to work if they cannot work from home and they will be permitted unlimited outdoor exercise.

The Government website reads: “People should not enter or leave Tier 4 areas, and Tier 4 residents must not stay overnight away from home.

“Where people cannot work from home, they should still travel to work, for example in the construction and manufacturing sectors.”

International travel is also off the cards for those in Tier 4, as is pretty much out of the question for those living under 1-3 restrictions.

Countries across Europe have begun to ban British residents travelling to them as the new strain is thought to have originated from here.

The Netherlands was the first to ban British travellers followed by Belgium, Austria and the Czech Republic.

Ireland, Germany and France are thought to be considering similar restrictions.

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