Tooting waits to see what life will be like in December as Boris sets out post lockdown plans

PRIME Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce details of what and how new guidelines about coronavirus will be implemented when the current period of lockdown ends on Wednesday, 2 December.

When the second national lockdown was imposed, Tooting and the rest of Wandsworth borough was placed in Tier 2 - this was repeated throughout the rest of the capital.

However, it is today expected that changes in the levels of restrictions imposed in each tier.

Mr Johnson will brief the nation this afternoon (Monday, 23 November) and it may not be until Thursday that Tooting knows which tier it is in as further evaluations are undertaken.

Mr Johnson has indicated that a number of areas that were in Tier One at lockdown may be lifted into Tier Two. It can be expected that Tooting and the borough will remain in Tier Two, with possible stricter restrictions imposed.

Some of the things that are anticipated:

• Gyms and non-essential shops will be allowed to reopen when England's lockdown ends.

• While parts of the tier system may be tougher, the 10pm closing time for pubs and restaurants will be relaxed.

• The ban on outdoor grassroots sport is also set to be lifted.

What about testing?

Mr Johnson is also expected to announce that mass testing will be introduced in all Tier Three areas. Rapid testing with military support, as used in Liverpool, will form part of the stricter system.

Testing will also be rolled out for care home visitors across England from next month - with every care home resident able to have two visitors tested twice a week.

It means people who live in care homes will be able to hug relatives by the end of the year, the government has said.

More areas are set to be placed in the higher tiers - high risk or very high risk - after lockdown, No 10 has said.

Will anything be changing for Christmas?

The PM had hoped to announce arrangements for the Christmas period today, but this has been delayed until at least Tuesday to allow the Scottish and Welsh cabinets to agree the plans.

It comes after the government said the UK's four nations had backed plans to allow some household mixing "for a small number of days" over Christmas.

It has been reported that one option that was discussed in meetings this weekend was that three households could be allowed to meet up for up to five days.

When can you expect to hear the announcement today?

The Prime Minister is due to make a statement in the House of Commons at around 15:30pm, followed by a national television briefing from Downing Street at 5pm.

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