# First COVID-19 tier regulations in England

On 14 October 2020, the UK Government abandoned its attempts to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by means of piecemeal local regulations and introduced a three-tier approach across England, with legal restrictions varying according to government-defined tiers (referred to in government statements as "Local COVID Alert Levels"). Tier 1 restrictions were referred to as 'Local COVID Alert Level Medium', with tier 2 being 'Local COVID Alert Level High' and tier 3 'Local COVID Alert Level Very High'. The restrictions were enforced by three English statutory instruments, as follows:
* "Tier 1": The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (Medium) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1103)
* "Tier 2": The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (High) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1104)
* "Tier 3": The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (Very High) (England) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1105)
These are collectively referred to in this article as the "tier regulations".
On 5 November 2020 the tier regulations were revoked and were replaced by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 which enforced a more rigorous second national lockdown.

## Context and earlier regulations

In response to the developing COVID-19 pandemic the UK government issued advice to English schools on 12 March 2020 that they should cancel trips abroad, and on 16 March that the public should avoid non-essential travel, crowded places, and visits to care homes. This was followed by the closure of schools, colleges and nurseries from 21 March.
On 21 March the government used emergency powers to make business closure regulations, enforcing the closure in England of businesses selling food and drink for consumption on the premises, as well as a range of other businesses such as nightclubs and indoor leisure centres where a high risk of infection could be expected. Five days later the restrictions were made more extensive. On 26 March 2020 the even more stringent Lockdown Regulations came into force. These became the principal delegated English legislation restricting freedom of movement, gatherings, and business closures, and were progressively relaxed on 22 April, 13 May, 1 June, and 13/15 June. The No. 2 regulations of 4 July 2020 further relaxed the rules throughout most of England, apart from City of Leicester and the surrounding area which became the subject of the first of a series of local regulations.
Between July and September 2020, more extensive and increasingly rigorous ad hoc local regulations were introduced, which in many areas proved unsuccessful in controlling spread of the virus. All of these local regulations were swept away on 14 October 2020, and were replaced by the tier regulations.

## Legal basis

The tier regulations were introduced by way of Statutory Instruments made by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, using emergency powers under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, the stated legal basis being "the serious and imminent threat to public health which is posed by the incidence and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in England". In each case, the Secretary of State used section 45R of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 to enact the regulations without prior parliamentary consideration, subject to retrospective approval by resolution of each House of Parliament within twenty-eight days.
Each of the three regulations was made on 12 October and came into force on 14 October 2020.

## Tiered restrictions

* Government posters, October 2020
* Tier 1 (Medium)
* Tier 2 (High)
* Tier 3 (Very High)
The concept of standardised Local COVID Alert Levels – medium, high and very high – was introduced by these regulations on 14 October 2020. The levels were referred to in government statements as Tier 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
Only three days later, piecemeal local changes were re-introduced at the tier 3 level, with additional local restrictions applying only in Liverpool, and different local restrictions applying only in Lancashire.

## Areas within each tier as at date of revocation

As at 5 November 2020, when the regulations were revoked by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 the following areas fell into each Local COVID Alert Level. See Main changes by date for a list of earlier amendments.
Areas by tier :
| | In effect | Area |
| Tier 1 Local COVID Alert Level - Medium | October 14, 2020 (2020-10-14) | All of England, apart from the areas in tiers 2 and 3 |
| Tier 2 Local COVID Alert Level - High | October 14, 2020 (2020-10-14) | Cheshire: Cheshire East, Cheshire West, Chester. Derbyshire: parts of High Peak. Durham: Durham. Greater Manchester: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan. Leicestershire: Leicester, Oadby and Wigston. Northumberland: Northumberland. South Yorkshire: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield. Tees Valley: Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees. Tyne and Wear: Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland. West Midlands: Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Wolverhampton, Walsall. West Yorkshire: Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield |
| Tier 2 Local COVID Alert Level - High | October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17) | Cumbria: Barrow-in-Furness. Derbyshire: Chesterfield, Erewash, North East Derbyshire. Essex: Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maldon, Rochford, Tendring, Uttlesford. Greater London: City of London, Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster. North Yorkshire: York. Surrey: Elmbridge |
| Tier 2 Local COVID Alert Level - High | October 24, 2020 (2020-10-24) | Berkshire: Slough, Staffordshire: Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands: Coventry |
| Tier 2 Local COVID Alert Level - High | October 31, 2020 (2020-10-31) | Bedfordshire: Luton. Derbyshire: Amber Valley, Bolsover, Derby, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak (all areas), South Derbyshire. East Riding of Yorkshire: East Riding, Hull. Shropshire: Telford & Wrekin. Leicestershire: Charnwood. Lincolnshire: NE Lincs, N Lincs. Oxfordshire: Oxford. Staffordshire: East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Staffordshire, Stafford, Stafford Moorlands, Tamworth, West Midlands: Dudley |
| Tier 2 Local COVID Alert Level - High | October 31, 2020 (2020-10-31) | Carlisle |
| Tier 3 * Local COVID Alert Level - Very High | October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17) (originally October 14, 2020 (2020-10-14)) | Liverpool region: Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral |
| Tier 3 * Local COVID Alert Level - Very High | October 17, 2020 (2020-10-17) | Lancashire: Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster City Council, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire, Wyre |
| Tier 3 * Local COVID Alert Level - Very High | October 23, 2020 (2020-10-23) | Greater Manchester: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan |
| Tier 3 * Local COVID Alert Level - Very High | October 24, 2020 (2020-10-24) | South Yorkshire: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield |
| Tier 3 * Local COVID Alert Level - Very High | October 27, 2020 (2020-10-27) | Cheshire: Warrington |
| Tier 3 * Local COVID Alert Level - Very High | October 30, 2020 (2020-10-30) | Nottinghamshire: Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark & Sherwood, Nottingham, Rushcliffe |
* Tier 3 areas were intended to expire automatically after 28 days.

## Restrictions on gatherings

In all tiers, gatherings were restricted. In the spaces indicated, these were the only permitted gatherings, unless one of the exceptions applied.
Permitted gatherings :
| Space | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
| Private dwelling (indoors) | Up to 6 | None permitted | None permitted |
| Other private indoor space | Up to 6 | None permitted | None permitted |
| Private dwelling (outdoors, e.g. garden) | Up to 6 | Up to 6 | None permitted |
| Private outdoor space | Up to 6 | Up to 6 | None permitted |
| Public outdoor space | Up to 6 | Up to 6 | Up to 6* |
* Meetings of up to 6 were permitted only in free-to-access public outdoor areas, and pay-to-access public outdoor sports grounds and facilities, botanical gardens and the gardens of castles, stately homes and historic houses(other than fairgrounds or funfairs). No gatherings were permitted in any other outdoor area.

## Exceptions to restrictions on gatherings

There were a variety of permitted exceptions to the above prohibitions, with details varying according to tier.

### Tier 1 exceptions

Tier 1 exceptions :
| Type | Indoor and outdoor exceptions |
| Same or linked households | All required to be members of a common household, or of two linked households ("support bubble") |
| Permitted organised gatherings | Organised, with precautions, by a business, charity or public body after a risk assessment. Participants must attend either alone or as part of a sub-group of no more than 6 (apart from larger single or linked household groups). Not allowed at a private dwelling |
| Gatherings necessary for certain purposes | Work, voluntary services, education, registered childcare, supervised activities for children, emergency assistance, avoiding harm, providing care to a vulnerable person, child access to parents, contact between certain siblings, prospective adopters |
| Legal obligations and proceedings | Fulfilling a legal obligation or participating in legal proceedings |
| Criminal justice accommodation | Any gathering in criminal justice accommodation |
| Support groups | Formally organised support groups of no more than 15 people. Not allowed at a private dwelling |
| Births | Attending a person giving birth |
| Marriages and civil partnerships etc. | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Includes non-faith ceremonies, but not at a private dwelling |
| Wedding and civil partnership receptions | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Not allowed at a private dwelling |
| Funerals | No more than 30 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Must be in a public outdoor space or a business or charity premises. Not allowed at a private dwelling |
| Commemorative event following a person's death | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Not allowed at a private dwelling |
| Protests | Organised, with precautions, by a business, charity, public body or political body after a risk assessment |
| Elite sports | Training and competition for elite sportspersons and coaches |
| Other sports | Organised outdoor sports or fitness activities, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Indoor activities for disabled people |
| Outdoor activities | An outdoor physical activity for which a licence or permit issued by a public body (other than a driving licence or a food or alcohol licence) is required |
| Remembrance Sunday | Commemorations where spectators participate either alone or as part of a sub-group of no more than 6 (apart from larger single or linked household groups). Provisions also for attendees who are working, members of the armed or voluntary services, and veterans |

### Tier 2 exceptions

Tier 2 exceptions :
| Type | Indoor exceptions | Outdoor exceptions |
| Same or linked households | All required to be members of a common household, or of two linked households ("support bubble") | As indoor exceptions |
| Permitted organised gatherings | Organised, with precautions, by a business, charity or public body after a risk assessment. Participants must attend either alone or as part of a sub-group of no more than 6 (apart from larger single or linked household groups). Not allowed at a private dwelling | As indoor exceptions |
| Gatherings necessary for certain purposes | To facilitate a house move; or as outdoor exceptions | Work, voluntary services, education, registered childcare, supervised activities for children, emergency assistance, avoiding harm, providing care to a vulnerable person, child access to parents, contact between certain siblings, prospective adopters |
| Legal | Fulfilling a legal obligation or participating in legal proceedings | Fulfilling a legal obligation |
| Criminal justice accommodation | Any gathering in criminal justice accommodation | As indoor exceptions |
| Support groups | Formally organised support groups of no more than 15 people. Not allowed at a private dwelling | As indoor exceptions |
| Births | Attending a person giving birth | As indoor exceptions |
| Marriages and civil partnerships etc. | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Includes non-faith ceremonies, but not at a private dwelling | As indoor exceptions |
| Wedding and civil partnership receptions | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Not allowed at a private dwelling | As indoor exceptions |
| Funerals | No more than 30 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Must be held at a business or charity premises. Not allowed at a private dwelling | As indoor exceptions, but must be held in a public outdoor space |
| Commemorative event following a person's death | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Must be held a premises, but not a private dwelling | As indoor exceptions |
| Visiting a dying person | Visitor is a member of that person's household, a close family member, or a friend | N/A |
| Visiting persons receiving treatment etc | Visitor is a member of that person's household, a close family member, or a friend. Applies to hospitals, hospices and care homes | N/A |
| Protests | Organised, with precautions, by a business, charity, public body or political body after a risk assessment | As indoor exceptions |
| Elite sports | Training and competition for elite sportspersons and coaches | As indoor exceptions |
| Other sports | Indoor activities for disabled people only | Organised outdoor sports or fitness activities, with precautions, after a risk assessment |
| Outdoor activities | N/A | An outdoor physical activity for which a licence or permit issued by a public body (other than a driving licence or a food or alcohol licence) is required |
| Remembrance Sunday | Commemorations where spectators participate either alone or as part of a sub-group of no more than 6 (apart from larger single or linked household groups). Provisions also for attendees who are working, members of the armed or voluntary services, and veterans | As indoor exceptions |

### Tier 3 exceptions

Tier 3 exceptions :
| Type | Indoor and outdoor exceptions | Indoor and outdoor exceptions | Indoor and outdoor exceptions | Ref |
| Same or linked households | All required to be members of a common household, or of two linked households ("support bubble") | All required to be members of a common household, or of two linked households ("support bubble") | All required to be members of a common household, or of two linked households ("support bubble") | |
| Permitted organised gatherings | Organised, with precautions, by a business, charity or public body after a risk assessment. Participants must attend either alone or as part of a sub-group of no more than 6 (apart from larger single or linked household groups). Not allowed at a private dwelling | Organised, with precautions, by a business, charity or public body after a risk assessment. Participants must attend either alone or as part of a sub-group of no more than 6 (apart from larger single or linked household groups). Not allowed at a private dwelling | Organised, with precautions, by a business, charity or public body after a risk assessment. Participants must attend either alone or as part of a sub-group of no more than 6 (apart from larger single or linked household groups). Not allowed at a private dwelling | |
| Gatherings necessary for certain purposes | Work, voluntary services, education, registered childcare, supervised activities for children, emergency assistance, avoiding harm, providing care to a vulnerable person, child access to parents, contact between certain siblings, prospective adopters, to facilitate a house move | Work, voluntary services, education, registered childcare, supervised activities for children, emergency assistance, avoiding harm, providing care to a vulnerable person, child access to parents, contact between certain siblings, prospective adopters, to facilitate a house move | Work, voluntary services, education, registered childcare, supervised activities for children, emergency assistance, avoiding harm, providing care to a vulnerable person, child access to parents, contact between certain siblings, prospective adopters, to facilitate a house move | |
| Legal obligations and proceedings | Fulfilling a legal obligation or participating in legal proceedings | Fulfilling a legal obligation or participating in legal proceedings | Fulfilling a legal obligation or participating in legal proceedings | |
| Criminal justice accommodation | Any gathering in criminal justice accommodation | Any gathering in criminal justice accommodation | Any gathering in criminal justice accommodation | |
| Support groups | Formally organised support groups of no more than 15 people. Not allowed at a private dwelling | Formally organised support groups of no more than 15 people. Not allowed at a private dwelling | Formally organised support groups of no more than 15 people. Not allowed at a private dwelling | |
| Births | Attending a person giving birth | Attending a person giving birth | Attending a person giving birth | |
| Marriages and civil partnerships etc. | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Includes non-faith ceremonies, but not at a private dwelling | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Includes non-faith ceremonies, but not at a private dwelling | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Includes non-faith ceremonies, but not at a private dwelling | |
| Funerals | No more than 30 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Must be held at a business or charity premises. Not allowed at a private dwelling | No more than 30 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Must be held at a business or charity premises. Not allowed at a private dwelling | No more than 30 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Must be held at a business or charity premises. Not allowed at a private dwelling | |
| Commemorative event following a person's death | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Must be held a premises, but not a private dwelling | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Must be held a premises, but not a private dwelling | No more than 15 people. Organised, with precautions, after a risk assessment. Must be held a premises, but not a private dwelling | |
| Protests | Organised, with precautions, by a business, charity, public body or political body after a risk assessment | Organised, with precautions, by a business, charity, public body or political body after a risk assessment | Organised, with precautions, by a business, charity, public body or political body after a risk assessment | |
| Elite sports | Training and competition for elite sportspersons and coaches | Training and competition for elite sportspersons and coaches | Training and competition for elite sportspersons and coaches | |
| Remembrance Sunday | Commemorations where spectators participate either alone or as part of a sub-group of no more than 6 (apart from larger single or linked household groups). Provisions also for attendees who are working, members of the armed or voluntary services, and veterans | Commemorations where spectators participate either alone or as part of a sub-group of no more than 6 (apart from larger single or linked household groups). Provisions also for attendees who are working, members of the armed or voluntary services, and veterans | Commemorations where spectators participate either alone or as part of a sub-group of no more than 6 (apart from larger single or linked household groups). Provisions also for attendees who are working, members of the armed or voluntary services, and veterans | |
| Type | Indoor exceptions | Ref | Outdoor exceptions | Ref |
| Visiting a dying person | Visitor is a member of that person's household, a close family member, or a friend | | N/A | |
| Visiting persons receiving treatment etc. | Visitor is a member of that person's household, a close family member, or a friend. Applied to hospitals, hospices and care homes | | N/A | |
| Informal childcare | Childcare provided by a member of a linked household | | N/A | |
| Other sports | Indoor activities for disabled people only | | Organised outdoor sports or fitness activities, with precautions, after a risk assessment | |
| Outdoor activities | N/A | | An outdoor physical activity for which a licence or permit issued by a public body (other than a driving licence or a food or alcohol licence) is required | |
There were no exception at tier 3 for wedding and civil partnership receptions.

## Linked households

A household containing exactly one adult (no more) and any number of children could form a permanent link with one other household of any size (such linked households were referred to in government statements as "support bubbles"). Households which were already linked under earlier regulations could not link with any other household.

## Business closures and restrictions

All the tiers were subject to business closures and restrictions on trading.

### Tier 1 business restrictions

Tier 1 closures and restrictions :
| | Details | Exceptions |
| Businesses that must close | Nightclubs, dance halls, discos, sexual entertainment venues, hostess bars, any venue with music and dancing that opens at night | Where the owner runs a separate shop, cafe or restaurant, or an online delivery service |
| Opening hours restrictions | Must close between 22:00 and 05:00: restaurants*, food and drink takeaways*, cafes and workplace canteens*, bars*, pubs*, social clubs*, casinos*, bowling alleys, cinemas, theatres, amusement arcades or other indoor leisure centres, funfairs (indoors or outdoors), theme and adventure parks and activities, bingo halls, and concert halls | Supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacists, petrol stations; motorway service stations); air and sea ports; on public transport; online food and drink deliveries and collections, drive-through takeaways. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls may remain open after 22:00 for the purpose of completing performances which began before that time |
| Table service and customer eating | Venues marked * above selling alcohol must serve all food and drink to customers seated at tables. Customers must order at the table, and must remain seated while eating and drinking. Venues so marked which do not sell alcohol need not serve customers at a table, but they must ensure that customers eating and drinking on the premises remain seated | |

### Tier 2 business restrictions

As at 14 October, these were the same as tier 1.
Tier 2 closures and restrictions :
| | Details | Exceptions |
| Businesses that must close | Nightclubs, dance halls, discos, sexual entertainment venues, hostess bars, any venue with music and dancing that opens at night | Where the owner runs a separate shop, cafe or restaurant, or an online delivery service |
| Opening hours restrictions | Must close between 22:00 and 05:00: restaurants*, food and drink takeaways*, cafes and workplace canteens*, bars*, pubs*, social clubs*, casinos*, bowling alleys, cinemas, theatres, amusement arcades or other indoor leisure centres, funfairs (indoors or outdoors), theme and adventure parks and activities, bingo halls, and concert halls | Supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacists, petrol stations; motorway service stations); air and sea ports; on public transport; online food and drink deliveries and collections, drive-through takeaways. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls may remain open after 22:00 for the purpose of completing performances which began before that time |
| Table service and customer eating | Venues marked * above which sell alcohol must serve all food and drink to customers seated at tables. Customers must order at the table, and must remain seated while eating and drinking. Venues so marked which do not sell alcohol need not serve customers at a table, but they must ensure that customers eating and drinking on the premises remain seated | |

### Tier 3 base-level business restrictions

Major differences from the tier 2 restrictions are shown in italic.
Tier 3 base-level closures and restrictions :
| | Details | Exceptions |
| Businesses that must close | Nightclubs, dance halls, discos, sexual entertainment venues, hostess bars, any venue with music and dancing that opens at night | Where the owner runs a separate shop, cafe or restaurant, or an online delivery service |
| Restrictions on pubs, bars, and other venues selling alcohol for consumption on the premises | These venues must close unless they serve alcohol only as part of a main meal (at least equivalent to the main course of a main midday or evening meal). The meal must be eaten while seated at a table (not at a serving counter). This rule applies equally to areas adjacent to the premises used by customers | Alcohol served as part of a hotel's room service |
| Opening hours restrictions | Must close between 22:00 and 05:00: restaurants*, food and drink takeaways*, cafes and workplace canteens*, bars*, pubs*, social clubs*, bowling alleys, cinemas, theatres, amusement arcades or other indoor leisure centres, funfairs (indoors or outdoors), theme and adventure parks and activities, bingo halls, and concert halls | Supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacists, petrol stations; motorway service stations); air and sea ports; on public transport; online food and drink deliveries and collections, drive-through takeaways. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls may remain open after 22:00 for the purpose of completing performances which began before that time |
| Table service and customer eating | Venues marked * above which sell alcohol must serve all food and drink to customers seated at tables. Customers must order at the table, and must remain seated while eating and drinking. Venues so marked which do not sell alcohol need not serve customers at a table, but they must ensure that customers eating and drinking on the premises remain seated | |

### Tier 3 additional restrictions in specific regions

These restrictions applied in the areas specified, in addition to the tier 3 base-level restrictions
| | In effect | Details |
| Tier 3 areas within Liverpool | 19 Oct 2020 | Must close (or remain closed): betting shops and adult gaming centres, casinos, indoor gyms, fitness and dance studios, and indoor sports facilities |
| Tier 3 areas within Liverpool | 24 Oct 2020 | Must close: soft play areas |
| Tier 3 areas within Lancashire | 19 Oct 2020 | Must close (or remain closed): betting shops and adult gaming centres, casinos, bingo halls, soft play areas, car boot sales |
| Tier 3 areas within Greater Manchester | 23 Oct 2020 | Must close: betting shops and adult gaming centres, casinos, bingo halls, soft play areas |
| Tier 3 areas within South Yorkshire | 23 Oct 2020 | Must close: betting shops and adult gaming centres, casinos, soft play areas |
| Tier 3 areas within Cheshire | 27 Oct 2020 | Must close: betting shops and adult gaming centres, casinos, soft play areas |
| Tier 3 areas within Nottinghamshire | 30 Oct 2020 | Must close: restaurants, cafes (except for the serving of a substantial table meal, without alcohol); betting shops and adult gaming centres, casinos, bingo halls, car boot sales, most auction houses; theme parks, circuses, funfairs, fairgrounds; spas and beauty salons (other than hairdressers), nail bars, tanning salons, tattoo and piercing parlours, saunas; most conference centres and exhibition halls, museums and galleries; many indoor entertainment venues including: visitor attractions, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, play centres and soft play areas, roller-skating rinks, indoor games, recreation and entertainment venues (such as laser quests and escape rooms); hookah lounges. Off-licences must close between 9 pm and 5 am |

## Requirement to obtain contact details

The tier 1 regulations added cinemas, concert venues and theatres to the existing requirement for venue operators to obtain contact details (name and phone number) from people or groups entering the venue.

## Enforcement

Breaches of the regulations were offences and could be prosecuted or dealt with by fixed penalty notices with penalties ranging up to £10,000 for repeated violations.

## Reviews and revocation

The Secretary of State had to review the need for all the restrictions every 28 days, and also the applicability of the tier 2 geographical areas every 14 days. There was no separate review of the tier 1 geographical areas. Tier 3 geographical area designations were set to expire automatically after 28 days.
All of the tier regulations were set to expire automatically on 14 April 2021. In the event, however, they were all revoked early, on 5 November 2020, by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 which enforced a more rigorous second lockdown.

## Main changes by date

This chronological table lists the main changes made by amendments to the tier regulations.
| SI | In effect | Ref | Main changes |
| 2020/1128 | 17 Oct 2020 | | Move up to tier 2: Greater London and the City of London, Essex (apart from Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock), Derbyshire (parts of High Peak), Cumbria (Barrow-in-Furness), North Yorkshire (York) and Surrey (Elmbridge) |
| 2020/1131 | 17 Oct 2020 | | Move up to tier 3: Lancashire |
| 2020/1131 | 19 Oct 2020 | | Allow the re-opening of casinos, betting shops, indoor gyms, fitness and dance studios and indoor sports facilities, except in Liverpool and Lancashire where special rules applied |
| 2020/1154 | 23 Oct 2020 | | Move up to tier 3: Greater Manchester. Additional closures in that area, beyond base tier 3 closures |
| 2020/1154 | 24 Oct 2020 | [134] [15] | Move up to tier 2 Slough, Stoke-on-Trent and Coventry Move up to tier 3: South Yorkshire. Additional closures in that area, beyond base tier 3 closures. Close soft play areas in Liverpool. |
| 2020/1176 | 27 Oct 2020 | | Move up to tier 3: Cheshire: Warrington |
| 2020/1183 | 30 Oct 2020 | | Move up to tier 3: Nottinghamshire. |
| 2020/1183 | 30 Oct 2020 | | Many more business closures in Nottinghamshire; off-licences must close at 9 pm |
| 2020/1189 | 31 Oct 2020 | | Move up to tier 2: Bedfordshire: Luton. Derbyshire: Amber Valley, Bolsover, Derby, Derbyshire Dales, remaining areas of High Peak, South Derbyshire. East Riding of Yorkshire: East Riding, Hull. Shropshire: Telford & Wrekin. Leicestershire: Charnwood. Lincolnshire: NE Lincs, N Lincs. Oxfordshire: Oxford. Staffordshire: East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Staffordshire, Stafford, Stafford Moorlands, Tamworth, West Midlands: Dudley |
| 2020/1192 | 31 Oct 2020 | | Move up to tier 2: Carlisle |