What time will the lockdown tiers be announced and will Sheffield be in Tier 3?

This comes after the Government set out the details for its ‘winter plan’ earlier this week.

What time is the speech today?

Matt Hancock will make his address at 11.30am today, November 26.

It will come after the Office of National Statistics has announced the coronavirus figures from its weekly infection survey, and the Department of Health has released the Test and Trace figures.

After Matt Hancock’s announcement Nicola Sturgeon will outline the rules for Scotland at Christmas.

What is Hancock expected to say?

In his speech he is expected to reveal which of the three tiers each local authority in England will be placed in, as well as what the rules would be in each tier.

In its announcement of the ‘winter plan’ Number 10 confirmed that the new tiers would be a ‘toughened’ version of the ones which came before the second lockdown, meaning more areas would be in tier 3.

It is not yet known which areas will be placed into which tiers.

Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis has said that he has not been consulted on the issue, and that he remains in the dark as to what tier Sheffield will be in.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement of the new tier system, Mr Jarvis said: “The Prime Minister’s statement set out significant easing of restrictions, yet provided no clear criteria for how and why regions will enter different tiers.

"Unless the Government fix the fundamentals – with a functioning test and trace system, comprehensive economic support, and clear and consistent guidance for the public – they risk squandering the sacrifices people and businesses in South Yorkshire have made so far.”

What will happen to the areas in the top tier?

Areas placed in Tier 3 will be offered support from NHS Test and Trace and the Armed Forces to deliver a six-week rapid community testing programme. These would give results within an hour.

The first review of the tier allocations will take place on December 16, meaning it will be possible for areas to be moved down a tier before Christmas if the slowing of the spread of coronavirus is successful.