Ashby and North West Leicestershire will remain in Tier Three Coronavirus Restrictions - that means the very high alert puts in place on December 2 stays as it was.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons today (Thursday) that very few areas would be going down from Tier 3 to 2 and that includes Leicestershire.

The whole of the district was placed under the safety measures which came effect when the November national lockdown was lifted.

This is how the Health Secretary updated the nation today (Thursday) BBC News

Ashby Councillor and Leicestershire County Council leader Nick Rushton issued an update after the latest announcement.

He said: "We know that being in tier 3 is very tough for residents and businesses, in particular, and we would have hoped for a different outcome when the government made its decision.

"However, there is a wider acknowledgment that rates have risen over the past few days.

"And what we now need is a collective effort to ensure people stay safe in the run-up to Christmas and beyond."

Ashby councillor speaks out on staying in tier 3

Ashby MP Andrew Bridgen had said that North West Leicestershire would be treated separately from the city of Leicester and it should come down to Tier 2 Ashby MP calls for district to be taken out of Tier 3.

But the whole of the county remains unchanged.

Mr Hancock said this afternoon: "As we enter the coldest months we must be vigilant.

"We must keep suppressing this virus, this is a matter for every single person.

"Especially with the vaccine here we must be cautious

"We have come so far we mustn't blow it now

"No-one wants tougher restrictions longer than is necessary

"This is a moment when we act with caution

"I know that tier 3 measure are tough but the best way for everyone to get it out of them is to do everything then can, not just to follow the rules

"In most places we are not quite there yet and the pressures there remain

"We are able to move some areas down a tier (Bristol and North Somerset to Tier 2, Herefordshire to Tier 2). For the vast majority of places in tier 3 we are not making a change in decision today.

"I want to thank everybody for doing what they are doing.

"The vaccine holds the promise of a great year ahead but we must keep doing what we are doing.

"That includes taking the personal responsibility to prevent the spread of the virus."

The next review of the tiered restrictions will come between Christmas and New Year, on Wednesday, December 30.

Between now and then restrictions will eased from December 23-27 for exclusive Christmas bubbles between up to three households.

Last night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, alongside chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, urged people not to see the three household allowance as a target.

They stressed that people should keep their Christmas mixing, short, small and local – with advice against travelling between high and low infection areas – and to "exercise extreme caution".

The latest coronavirus rates have been showing progress but there is still work to do to drive down rates, says Leicestershire County Council's Director of Public Health.

Mike Sandys, Leicestershire County Council's director of public health, said when Tier 3 was first announced: "Over the past few days, rates have started to fall and we've made some progress. But it's important to put this into perspective.

"Figures are over 20 per cent down compared to this time last week but they're still worse than the day we went into lockdown. Leicestershire's average is significantly higher than the national level so there is still work to do.

"Whatever the level, it's still vital we all do the right thing. There could be tough times ahead in January so let's not undo the good work so far."

As a reminder, this is what tier three means according to the Gov.uk website.

This is for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level of infections, where tighter restrictions are in place.

In Tier 3:

• 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. This includes:

• indoor play centres and areas, including trampolining parks and soft play

• casinos

• bingo halls

• bowling alleys

• skating rinks

• amusement arcades and adult gaming centres

• laser quests and escape rooms

• cinemas, theatres and concert halls

• snooker halls

• indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open). This includes indoor attractions within:

• zoos, safari parks, and wildlife reserves

• aquariums, visitor attractions at farms, and other animal attractions

• model villages

• museums, galleries and sculpture parks

• botanical gardens, biomes or greenhouses

• theme parks, circuses, fairgrounds and funfairs

• visitor attractions at film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes

• landmarks including observation decks and viewing platforms

• 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

• there should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators

• 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 restriction 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

• 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

• avoid travelling to other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey

• for international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list

Exemptions from gatherings limits in all tiers

• as part of a single household, or a support bubble

• for work or providing voluntary or charitable services, including in other people's homes

• for childcare, education or training – meaning education and training provided as part of a formal curriculum

• for supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care (before and after-school childcare), groups and activities for under 18s, and children's playgroups

• for formal support groups, and parent and child groups – up to 15 people aged 5 and older

• to allow contact between birth parents and children in care, as well as between siblings in care

• for arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents or guardians

• for prospective adopting parents to meet a child or children who may be placed with them

• for birth partners

• to attend a funeral – with no more than 30 people present – or a commemorative event such as a wake for someone who has died – with no more than 15 people present

• to see someone who is terminally ill or at the end of life

• to attend a wedding or civil partnership – with no more than 15 people present

• to provide emergency assistance

• to avoid injury or illness, or to escape a risk of harm

• to fulfil a legal obligation, such as attending court or jury service

• to provide care or assistance to someone vulnerable or to provide respite for a carer

• to facilitate moving home