HAMPSHIRE is to be placed in Tier One as the Prime Minister announced a new three-tier system to try to stop the spread of coronavirus.

From tomorrow the county will be classified as being on medium alert.

This means that Hampshire residents will face the basic national rules currently in force including the closure of pubs, bars and restaurants at 10pm and the rule of six (the number of people who can meet up) both indoors and outdoors.

These restrictions apply to the areas with the lowest rate of infection.

But civic chiefs have warned that the number of cases across the county continues to rise.

It comes as a total of 6,995 has been recorded in Hampshire and 688 in Winchester.

It is not yet clear what is the threshold for the county to move from Tier One to Tier Two.

As reported, in a Tier Two area the mixing between different households indoors will not be allowed and the rule of six will only apply outdoors.

Meanwhile, restrictions in a Tier Three area mean pubs and bars will be closed; households cannot mix indoors or outdoors; gyms, leisure centres, betting shops and casinos will also close while shops, schools and universities will remain open.  At the moment the Liverpool City Region is the only one across the country to face such restrictions.

Simon Bryant, director public health at Hampshire County Council, said: “Hampshire is currently at Tier 1 – medium risk.

"While infection rates in Hampshire continue to be well below the England average, we are seeing the overall number of positive cases continuing to rise. 

"To help prevent the further spread of infection, and the risk of our county moving into Tier 2, it’s critical that we all stick to the rules – hands - face – space, and refrain from gathering in a group of more than six, either indoors or outdoors (although this can be more for single household groups or support bubbles).

"If we don’t, we could be faced with further curbs to our freedoms – something none of us wants to happen.”