Tier 4 restrictions came into effect in London on 20 December 2020. The Government intends to review restrictions every two weeks, with the next review taking place on 30 December.
Financial support
In addition to existing support, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and business loans schemes, businesses legally required to close in Tier 4 will be eligible for grants of up to £3,000 per month through the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum. Local authorities will also be able to use their Additional Restrictions Grant to award discretionary grants or provide other business support.
Information on how to access this and other support is available here.
Work and travel
The ‘Stay At Home’ message will be put in law in Tier 4. Exemptions include travelling for work or education where necessary, adult caring responsibilities, for childcare purposes, essential shopping and for exercise. People should not enter or leave Tier 4 areas.
Everyone who can work from home should do so. Where people cannot work from home, they should still travel to work. This includes people who work in critical national infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, and essential services such as childcare or education. Where it is necessary to work in others’ homes, e.g. cleaners or tradespeople, this is still permitted.
If it is necessary to travel, people should take steps such as avoiding busy routes and times, avoiding making unnecessary stops, avoiding sharing cars with people not in the same household and keeping a distance from fellow travellers.
Full guidance for work and travel is available here.
Business and venue closures
A full list of businesses that are required to close in Tier 4 is available on this page. In brief, these include:
- Non-essential retail, such as clothing and homeware stores, vehicle showrooms (other than for rental), and electronic goods and mobile phone shops. These venues can operate click and collect* and delivery services, however.
- The definition of hardware has been clarified to explain that exemption from closure applies to those carrying out construction projects or repairs. Homeware stores are therefore unable to open.
- Hospitality venues such as cafes, restaurants, pubs, and bars must close, but can continue to offer food and drink for takeaway until 11pm, click-and-collect*, drive-through or delivery.
- Accommodation, with the exception of specific circumstances, e.g. where these act as someone’s main residence, where the person cannot return home, for providing accommodation or support to the homeless, or where it is essential to stay for work purposes.
- Leisure and sports facilities such as leisure centres and indoor gyms, indoor swimming pools, indoor sports courts, and indoor fitness and dance studios.
- Entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries.
- Personal care facilities such as spas and hair, beauty and nail salons. These services should not be provided in people’s homes.
*For click and collect services, customers will be unable to enter the premises.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like to speak to us about how your business is affected, please contact policy@londonchamber.co.uk.