EALING, along with the rest of London is set to enter newly created Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions from tomorrow, Sunday, December 20.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson today cancelled the Christmas bubble period for residents in London and the South East of England, only four days before it was due to begin, saying people should spend Christmas with their household or support bubbles only.

The Tier 4 rules mean that 'non-essential' shops will have to close, including clothes stores and hairdressers as well as gyms.

This has been done because a new variant of COVID-19 is spreading quickly throughout London and the South East.

The main issue with the new variant is that it appears to be up to 70% more infectious.

It is not thought that it results in more serious illness or that it will cause the vaccine to be any less effective.

This announcement comes just days after the whole of London was upgraded from Tier 2 to Tier 3, when news of the new variant was first announced to the public.

Tier 4 rules:

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• Residents must stay at home, apart from limited exemptions
• Non-essential retail, indoor gyms and leisure facilities and personal care services must close
• Residents must work from home if they can, unless this is not possible e.g. manufacturing and construction sectors
• People should not enter or leave Tier 4 areas
• Tier 4 residents must not stay overnight away from home
• You can only meet one person from another household in an outdoor public space
• Communal worship can continue to take place
• International travel is not allowed except for exceptional circumstances