Confirmed: we remain in Tier 2

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed that our Liverpool City Region will stay in Tier 2.

This was more or less expected as infection rates have not spiked here since the rules were relaxed on December 2.

Despite concern expressed by scientists and health experts, relaxed Covid rules allowing extended family bubbles over a five day period at Christmas stay in place.

However, the onus on exactly how to interpret them was placed on the public when Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned yesterday that "a smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas", and that permitting three households to mix over the five days are "maximums rather than targets."

Here's a reminder and summary of what we can and cannot do in Tier 2:

Hospitality venues are allowed to stay open until 11pm – with last orders at 10pm – but only those that serve substantial meals can operate. Pubs and bars that do not are closed.

Social mixing outside of households or support bubbles is not allowed indoors. The rule of six applies outdoors.

Spectators are allowed to watch sport, with a maximum crowd capacity outdoors of 50% of the capacity of the stadium or 2,000 people, whichever is smaller. Indoors, the maximum capacity is 1,000. All of which means Prenton Park can welcome fans on the 26th when Tranmere Rovers take on Bradford City.

Gyms and leisure facilities such as swimming pools can open.

Indoor entertainment venues, such as cinemas, casinos and bowling alleys, are open, but must close at 11pm.

Everyone who can work from home should do so.

We can continue to travel to venues that are open, or for reasons such as work or education, but we should reduce the number of journeys we make wherever possible.

We must continue to follow Tier 2 rules when we travel to a Tier 1 area. However, we should avoid travel to or overnight stays in Tier 3 areas other than where necessary.

The government does not recommend that we travel from Tier 2 into a Tier 3 area, for example, to do Christmas shopping.