YORK will face tougher Covid-19 restrictions beginning Friday at midnight as the city moves from Tier 1 to Tier 2.

Health secretary Matt Hancock has revealed in parliament that York will be put in a higher level of restrictions - due to rising levels of Covid cases. 

The change comes in at 12.01am on Saturday and will be reviewed in 14 days. Ryedale and North Yorkshire remain in Tier 1.

Cllr Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council, said: “This year has been exceptionally difficult for everyone, and we are grateful to residents and businesses across the city who have gone to great lengths to adapt to the new guidance and protect our city. However, we must adapt again.

“Despite being restricted from mixing indoors, there are still plenty of ways we can spend time with our family, friends and in the city.  Our businesses have stepped up and created controlled safe spaces for people to safely enjoy the city.  It is crucial that we continue in this spirit, shop local and work together to protect the people and places we love.”

York’s infection rate has risen significantly. The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period October 6-12 is 247.37. The latest local “validated” 7 day rate for York for the period October 2-8 was 261.1. The national and regional averages at this date were 156.5 and 267.5 respectively.

Sharon Stoltz, the city's Director of Public Health, said: “The new restrictions will make life more difficult, but following them is our best chance to slow the virus and have them removed as quickly as possible.

“This year has been tough for everyone and once again, we are asking people in our city, who have already done so much, to go further to protect each other.

“We continue to closely monitor the data to track and trace the spread of the virus as quickly as possible. We’re seeing the virus spread mainly through social contact and households mixing indoors and not social distancing.”

What the new restrictions will mean:

  • You must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting unless you live with them or have formed a support bubble with them. This includes private homes, and any other indoor venues such as pubs and restaurants.
  • You may continue to see friends and family you do not live with outside, including in a garden or other outdoor space. When you do so you must not meet in a group of more than 6.
  • Visiting indoor hospitality/leisure/retail settings is restricted to one household i.e. two households must not meet in these settings (unless those two households are in a support bubble).
  • People are advised only to visit care homes in exceptional circumstances (further work will be undertaken locally to agree what this means).
  • People should only travel for essential reasons.
  • You can still go on holiday outside of your area, but you should only do this with people you live with, or have formed a support bubble with (dependant on any local restrictions in the area you are visiting).
  • People can play a team sport only where this is formally organised by a sports club or similar organisation, and sports-governing body guidance has been issued.
  • People should not attend amateur or professional sporting events as a spectators.
  • Wedding receptions and celebrations can continue for up to 15 people in the form of a sit-down meal and in a Covid-secure setting, not in a private dwelling.
  • Up to 30 people can attend a funeral (York capacity remains at 18), and 15 for a wake in a Covid-secure setting, not in a private dwelling.