Leicestershire will be split up when it comes to the new three-tier local lockdown system that kicks in on Wednesday.

Announcing the new structure, the Prime Minister said that areas already subject to higher levels of restriction, would 'automatically' be placed in tier 2.

Oadby & Wigston currently has local lockdown rules in place preventing people from mixing with other households in homes or gardens.

The borough council said after the PM's update that rules in the area will remain as they are and it will be a 'high alert' Tier 2 area – the same as the city of Leicester.

A spokesperson for the authority said: "The council has received confirmation from the Director of Public Health that the Borough of Oadby & Wigston is in Tier 2 (High) of the Government's 3 Tiered System. As it stands, the borough's current lockdown measures will remain the same."

They added: "One thing that is now allowed is to meet family and friends in each other's gardens, as well as beer gardens (rule of 6 applies).

"But going into someone else's house is still not allowed. Final regulations will be shared as soon as they are published."

The rules from Tier 1 – including the rule of six and hospitality closing at 10pm – also apply.

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The area's MP, Neil O'Brien confirmed that the rest of his Harborough constituency and the rest of the county will be classed as 'medium' Tier 1 alert level areas, meaning they will be subject to the lowest level of restrictions.

He urged people to watch the Prime Minister's announcement to find out more about what the rules will look like for each tier.

Measures for areas classed as 'medium' will remain the same as current national guidelines, meaning that the rule of six applies when socialising in any setting.

Pubs and restaurants can open but must follow the 10pm curfew.

Leicestershire County Council's director of public health, Mike Sandys, said this evening (Monday): "Whatever the county's level is, it doesn't alter the position that we're still looking at rising rates due to a second wave of cases so people have to remain vigilant at all times.

"It's all about people working together to control the virus – that's through social distancing, wearing a face mask, washing your hands and then encouraging people, whether they're on the school run, travelling to work, in the office or going out for a drink, to change their behaviour.

"Our recently-launched campaign with partners sums it up: it's down to us."

City MPs earlier confirmed that [L[https://www.leicester.gov.uk/[L+]Leicester[.L] will be placed into the 'high' alert category, it appeared details for some of the county were still being ironed out.

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