What tier is Midhurst and Petworth in and what is the local Covid-19 infection rate? Here’s all you need to know after latest review

West Sussex, including Midhurst and Petworth, will enter tier 4 restrictions from Boxing Day, health secretary Matt Hancock has announced.

As coronavirus cases soar across the county, Mr Hancock said tougher restrictions were needed to tackle a new, more contagious strain of the infection spreading across the south of England.

“In many parts of the country this virus is under control,” he said.

“But just as we’ve got a tier system in place that was able to control the virus we’ve discovered a new, more contagious variant that is spreading dangerously.”

From 12.01am on Boxing Day, all of Sussex will now be placed into tier 4, following the lead of Hastings and Rother which entered tier 4 earlier this month.

Mr Hancock said tougher restrictions were ‘vital’ against a backdrop of rising infections, hospitalisations and deaths.

The restrictions of tier 3 had been proven not to work against the new strain, he added.

Restrictions under tier 4 are as follows:

- Residents should stay at home, unless they have a 'reasonable excuse' such as work or education

- All non-essential shops must close

- Hairdressers and nail bars must close

- Indoor entertainment venues must close

- Gyms and indoor swimming pools, indoor sports courts and dance studios must close

- You cannot meet other people indoors, unless you live with them or they are part of your support bubble

- People should not leave tier four areas or travel abroad, except for limited reasons (including work and education)

- Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are only allowed in exceptional circumstances

“This Christmas and the start of 2021 is going to be tough, but we mustn’t give up now,” said Mr Hancock.

“We know we can control this virus, we know we can get through it together.”

These are the latest infection figures for West Sussex, as of week ending December 18, according to Public Health England:

Mid-Sussex: 285.4 per 100,000 – increase of 114 per cent

Adur: 264.4 per 100,000 – increase of 215 per cent

Crawley: 260.7 per 100,000 – increase of 93 per cent

Arun: 227.7 per 100,000 – increase of 104 per cent

Worthing: 137.5 per 100,000 – increase of 90 per cent

Chichester: 143.6 per 100,000 – increase of 83 per cent

Horsham: 127.3 per 100,000 – increase of 25 per cent

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