TODAY (December 2) marks the end of the second national lockdown and sees Cheshire West and Chester enter 'Tier 2' of the Government's revised coronavirus restrictions.

Some of the new measures are more stringent than those the borough faced prior to the recent four-week lockdown.

The restrictions will be particularly tough on a hospitality sector that would normally be enjoying its busiest time of the year with Christmas parties and get-togethers generating large sums of revenue.

However, sport events will be allowed to have a limited number of spectators once more.

This will be good news for Chester FC, which had already arranged a socially distanced seating plan for its season ticket-holders at the Deva Stadium prior to the beginning of the current campaign, before the Government announced spectators would not be allowed to attend 'elite sporting events', which included all National League North fixtures.

Chester Zoo will also be reopening, which would have been the case whatever Tier the borough was placed in, but it mean it can also host its popular Lanterns event.

The tiers will be reviewed on December 16 but experts have warned that people must continue to face restrictions ahead of the UK-wide easing of measures over Christmas.

What can you do in Tier 2 (High alert)?

Those in Tier 2 will have to follow these rules:

  • Meeting friends and family: No mixing of households indoors, apart from support bubbles. Maximum of six outdoors.
  • Bars, pubs and restaurants: Pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals. Venues must stop taking orders at 10pm and must close by 11pm.
  • Retail: Open.
  • Work and business: Everyone who can work from home should do so.
  • Education: Early years settings, schools, colleges and universities will be open. Childcare, other supervised activities for children and childcare bubbles permitted.
  • Indoor leisure: Open.
  • Accommodation: Open.
  • Personal care: Open.
  • Overnight stays: Permitted with household or support bubble.
  • Weddings and funerals: 15 guests for weddings, civil partnerships, wedding receptions and wakes, 30 for funerals.
  • Entertainment: Open.
  • Places of worship: Open, but cannot interact with anyone outside household or support bubble.
  • Travelling: Reduce the number of journeys you make and walk or cycle if possible. Avoid busy times and routes on public transport. Avoid car sharing with those outside of your household or support bubble. Avoid travelling into a Tier 3 area, other than where necessary such as for work or education. Further exemptions apply.
  • Exercise: Classes and organised adult sport can take place outdoors, but cannot take place indoors if there is any interaction between people from different households. Organised activities for elite athletes, under-18s and disabled people can continue.
  • Residential care: Covid-secure arrangements such as substantial screens, visiting pods and window visits. Outdoor/airtight visits only (rollout of rapid testing will enable indoor visits including contact).
  • Large events: Sport, live performances and business meetings limited to 50 per cent capacity of 2,000 people outdoors (whichever is lower) and 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people indoors (whichever is lower).