Swadlincote and South Derbyshire is staying Tier Three Coronavirus Restrictions - the very high alert that as introduced on December 2.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons today (Thursday) that very few areas would be going down from Tier 3 to 2 and that includes Derbyshire.

The whole of the district was placed under the safety measures which came effect when the November national lockdown was lifted.

Derby and Derbyshire are staying in the most extreme Tier 3 Covid-19 restrictions until at least December 30.

This follows calls from both the city and county's public health directors to keep the area in Tier 3 until into January due to "worrying" rising infection rates, including in the over 60s, and pressure on local NHS services.

However, it will be gut-punch for businesses who had been hoping to open before Christmas for much-needed trade.

This includes pubs, bars, restaurants, cinemas, bowling alleys and hotels.

It also means there will be no return of live sport and entertainment events for up to 2,000 people.

Some bars, pubs and restaurants have been running takeaway services in a bid to keep business ticking over – all that is allowed in Tier 3.

Derbyshire MPs had been calling for at least parts of the county to be dropped into Tier 2 to give businesses a chance of surviving the festive season – typically when many see a surge in custom.

It also means households still cannot meet people from other households indoors and in most outdoor places, except for public places such as parks and retaining the rule of six.

Mr Hancock said this afternoon: "As we enter the coldest months we must be vigilant.

"We must keep suppressing this virus, this is a matter for every single person.

"Especially with the vaccine here we must be cautious

"We have come so far we mustn't blow it now

"No-one wants tougher restrictions longer than is necessary

"This is a moment when we act with caution

"I know that tier 3 measure are tough but the best way for everyone to get it out of them is to do everything then can, not just to follow the rules

"In most places we are not quite there yet and the pressures there remain

"We are able to move some areas down a tier (Bristol and North Somerset to Tier 2, Herefordshire to Tier 2). For the vast majority of places in tier 3 we are not making a change in decision today.

"I want to thank everybody for doing what they are doing.

"The vaccine holds the promise of a great year ahead but we must keep doing what we are doing.

"That includes taking the personal responsibility to prevent the spread of the virus."

The next review of the tiered restrictions will come between Christmas and New Year, on Wednesday, December 30.

Between now and then restrictions will eased from December 23-27 for exclusive Christmas bubbles between up to three households.

Last night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, alongside chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, urged people not to see the three household allowance as a target.

They stressed that people should keep their Christmas mixing, short, small and local – with advice against travelling between high and low infection areas – and to "exercise extreme caution".

Public health chiefs in the city and county say the next review will be too soon to reduce restrictions after Christmas, following which a further surge in infections is expected.

This impact will not become truly visible until mid January, they say.

Derby and Derbyshire were plunged into "very high alert" Tier 3 measures immediately following the end of the nation's second lockdown on December 2.

Before this, the county as a whole had spent less than a week in the then Tier 2 measures, with some areas having spent more than two weeks in those restrictions.

Politicians in the county, including Cllr Baris Lewis, Derbyshire County Council leader, have hailed the roll-out of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine and rapid community testing – to start from December 21 – as the route to Tier 2 and even Tier 1.

On December 15, Dean Wallace, the county council's director of public health, denied that rapid testing was any sort of "silver bullet" and will not get the area "out of jail".

He said it would be an extra tool alongside the majority of people following guidance around social distancing, face coverings and good hand hygiene, along with efficient contact tracing and the vaccine roll-out – all at the same time.

Since the second lockdown was eased, Covid infections in Derbyshire have increased by more than a quarter, after a rapid and consistent reduction throughout November.

In recent weeks, Derby infections have increased by 46 per cent (196 per 100,000), while rates in Bolsover (241 per 100,000) and South Derbyshire (253 per 100,000) have rapidly doubled and are substantially above the national average.

Meanwhile, rates in Chesterfield, the Dales, Erewash and, to some extent, North East Derbyshire are maintaining around the same levels of infections.

The number of Covid-19 hospital inpatients in the county has also begun to increase again after a period of decline.

On Monday (December 14), the number of Covid-19 patients at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust surpassed the level it saw during April's first virus peak.

Here is what it means for you according to the Gov.uk website.

This is for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level of infections, where tighter restrictions are in place.

In Tier 3:

• you must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues

• you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the 'rule of 6'

• hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.

• accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training

• indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close. This includes:

• indoor play centres and areas, including trampolining parks and soft play

• casinos

• bingo halls

• bowling alleys

• skating rinks

• amusement arcades and adult gaming centres

• laser quests and escape rooms

• cinemas, theatres and concert halls

• snooker halls

• indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open). This includes indoor attractions within:

• zoos, safari parks, and wildlife reserves

• aquariums, visitor attractions at farms, and other animal attractions

• model villages

• museums, galleries and sculpture parks

• botanical gardens, biomes or greenhoses

• theme parks, circuses, fairgrounds and funfairs

• visitor attractions at film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes

• landmarks including observation decks and viewing platforms

• leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should close

• there should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators

• large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events

• places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies

• weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events

• organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place

• organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s

• you can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible

• avoid travelling to other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey

• for international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list

Exemptions from gatherings limits in all tiers

• as part of a single household, or a support bubble

• for work or providing voluntary or charitable services, including in other people's homes

• for childcare, education or training – meaning education and training provided as part of a formal curriculum

• for supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care (before and after-school childcare), groups and activities for under 18s, and children's playgroups

• for formal support groups, and parent and child groups – up to 15 people aged 5 and older

• to allow contact between birth parents and children in care, as well as between siblings in care

• for arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents or guardians

• for prospective adopting parents to meet a child or children who may be placed with them

• for birth partners

• to attend a funeral – with no more than 30 people present – or a commemorative event such as a wake for someone who has died – with no more than 15 people present

• to see someone who is terminally ill or at the end of life

• to attend a wedding or civil partnership – with no more than 15 people present

• to provide emergency assistance

• to avoid injury or illness, or to escape a risk of harm

• to fulfil a legal obligation, such as attending court or jury service

• to provide care or assistance to someone vulnerable or to provide respite for a carer

• to facilitate moving home