Swindon will be in Tier 2 when the national lockdown ends on Wednesday. 

This is the 'high alert' tier and comes with similar restrictions to Tier 1 (medium alert) with some key differences. 

One is the rule of six can only be applied outside and households should not mix. 

The second is pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants and can only serve alcohol with a 'substantial meal'. 

Health secretary Matt Hancock said the tier system will be reviewed in two weeks.

The full rules for Tier 2 are: 

  • Meeting friends and family: No mixing of households indoors, apart from support bubbles. Maximum of six outdoors.
  • Bars, pubs and restaurants: Pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals. Venues must stop taking orders at 10pm and must close by 11pm.
  • Retail: Open.
  • Work and business: Everyone who can work from home should do so.
  • Education: Early years settings, schools, colleges and universities will be open. Childcare, other supervised activities for children and childcare bubbles permitted.
  • Indoor leisure: Open.
  • Accommodation: Open.
  • Personal care: Open.
  • Overnight stays: Permitted with household or support bubble.
  • Weddings and funerals: 15 guests for weddings, civil partnerships, wedding receptions and wakes, 30 for funerals.
  • Entertainment: Open.
  • Places of worship: Open, but cannot interact with anyone outside the household or support bubble.
  • Travelling: Reduce the number of journeys you make and walk or cycle if possible. Avoid busy times and routes on public transport. Avoid car sharing with that outside of your household or support bubble. Avoid travelling into a Tier 3 area, other than where necessary such as for work or education. Further exemptions apply.
  • Exercise: Classes and organised adult sport can take place outdoors, but cannot take place indoors if there is any interaction between people from different households. Organised activities for elite athletes, under-18s and disabled people can continue.
  • Residential care: Covid-secure arrangements such as substantial screens, visiting pods and window visits. Outdoor/airtight visits only (rollout of rapid testing will enable indoor visits including contact).
  • Large events: Sport, live performances and business meetings limited to 50 per cent capacity of 2,000 people outdoors (whichever is lower) and 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people indoors (whichever is lower).