These are the rules about social meet ups in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas

Boris Johnson has announced a swathe of new lockdown restrictions for England with the introduction of a new three tiered system of local Covid alert levels.

The stricter measures have seen regions divided into ‘medium’, ‘high’ and ‘very high’ alerts based on the level of local infection rates, with each of the three tiers dictating different restrictions.

The move comes amid concerns that the virus is spreading out of control in northern England and the Midlands, forcing restrictions to be tightened in an effort to prevent further spread and relieve pressure on hospitals.

But what are the rules on social gatherings in each tier? Here’s everything you need to know about the new system.

How many people can I meet?

The rules on social gatherings differ from area to area, with regions in a higher tier facing the toughest restrictions.

Areas that are placed in the medium alert level (tier 1) will be subject to the current national measures, including the rule of six and the 10pm curfew. This means that household mixing indoors is still permitted, provided you do not exceed the six person limit.

In areas where the Covid alert level is high (tier 2), the restrictions are similar to those that were previously implemented in areas under local lockdown, but there is now more consistency across the country.

Areas on high alert must not:

meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place, such as pubs, bars and restaurantsmeet in a group of more than six outside, including in a garden or other space

Those in the highest tier, on very high alert (tier 3), are banned from meeting with anybody outside their people must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, but can meet in certain outdoor public spaces in groups of six or less. These include:

parks, beaches, countryside, forestspublic gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them), allotmentsoutdoor sports courts and facilities, and playgrounds

People are also advised to avoid travelling outside of their local area, or entering another ‘very high’ alert area, other than for essential purposes, such as work or education.

Pubs and bars have been instructed to close in these areas, unless they can operate as a restaurant, in a bid to reduce transmission. These areas may also face possible further restrictions on hospitality, leisure, entertainment or personal care sectors, but retail, schools and universities will remain open.

What are the Covid alert levels by area?

This is the full list of local Covid alert levels across England:

Medium alert:

All areas, excluding those listed below

High alert:

Cheshire

Cheshire West and ChesterCheshire East

Greater Manchester

ManchesterBoltonBuryStockportTamesideTraffordWiganSalfordRochdaleOldham

Warrington

Warrington

Derbyshire

High Peak - the wards of:

TintwistlePadfieldDintingSt John’sOld GlossopWhitfieldSimmondleyGamesleyHoward TownHadfield SouthHadfield North

Lancashire

BlackpoolBlackburn with DarwenBurnleyChorleyFyldeHyndburnLancasterPendlePrestonRibble ValleyRossendaleSouth RibbleWest LancashireWyre

West Yorkshire

LeedsBradfordKirkleesCalderdaleWakefield

South Yorkshire

BarnsleyRotherhamDoncasterSheffield

North East

NewcastleSouth TynesideNorth TynesideGatesheadSunderlandDurhamNorthumberland

Tees Valley

MiddlesbroughRedcar and ClevelandStockton-on-TeesDarlingtonHartlepool

West Midlands

BirminghamSandwellSolihullWolverhamptonWalsall

Leicester

LeicesterOadby and Wigston

Nottingham

NottinghamshireNottingham City

Very high alert:

Liverpool City Region

LiverpoolKnowsleyWirralSt HelensSeftonHalton

A version of this article originally appeared on our sister site, Yorkshire Evening Post.