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London moves to Tier 2 and faces tougher restrictions from midnight

At midnight tonight the capital is set to move to ‘Tier 2’ of coronavirus restrictions. This means that household mixing indoors is banned if you are not in a support bubble. However, socially distanced meetings outside are allowed with up to six people. 

Tier 2 is the middle level of the new three tier system implemented by the government this week. It means that in London there is now a ‘high risk’ of Covid-19. Kent still remains in the lowest tier with a ‘medium risk’. 

Under these new restrictions, meeting with people outside of your household in homes or pubs and restaurants is banned. This is of course unless you are in a support bubble. The 10pm curfew will also remain in place in such hospitality venues. 

Kent commuters will now face tougher restrictions when entering the capital.

Tyler Craig from Newington commutes to Canary Wharf five times a week. Following the announcement yesterday he was “extremely confused” about how the new restrictions would change his office environment. 

He said: “Many of the employees at my office commute from outside of London, with the new changes we are still uncertain if we will have to attend the office or not. 

“I have no other choice but to use public transport and this is being advised against.”

Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “No one wants to see this, but it is necessary to protect Londoners”, as cases are soon reaching 100 per 100,000 people in the capital. 

He has also suggested that a national ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown should be implemented to stop the spread of the virus. 

Mayor Sadiq Khan say the move to Tier 2 is “necessary”. Credit: Getty Images

These new restrictions in London will of course have some implications for residents in Kent as well. The government has advised against using Public Transport where possible and told London workers to work from home where possible. This leaves Kent commuters in a difficult position if their workplace and home address are in different tiers of restrictions. 

Bromley and Bexley are also included in the Tier 2 restrictions. However, nearby Dartford will not face the tougher measures. 

Maria Carlton works in Bluewater shopping centre, just minutes from the boundary line of the new restrictions. She expressed her concern that Londoners will travel into Kent to “take advantage of our freedom”, eating in the many restaurants of the shopping centre to avoid restrictions. 

Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite suggested that perhaps those in Dartford should start voluntarily adopting some Tier 2 measures.

While cases are increasing rapidly in Kent, especially in Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells, it is unlikely that the county will be moved into the higher tier in the near future.

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