The leader of Rutland County Council has pleased for residents to 'act responsibly'.

His comments come as the UK Government has today confirmed that Rutland will remain a Tier 2 area (High Risk) as part of England's local COVID-19 restrictions.

Council leader Oliver Hemsley said: "We saw a promising decline in Rutland's COVID-19 figures during the second national lockdown.

"These numbers have risen again in recent weeks, which is why we remain a Tier 2 area. I can't stress enough just how important it is that we continue to follow the guidance for our area, particularly as the government has committed to relaxing some of its COVID restrictions over Christmas. This is wonderful news for families who have been kept apart during the pandemic but, equally, comes with risks and we must all act responsibly.

Coun Hemsley added: "If you do choose to form a Christmas bubble, you can do so between 23 and 27 December with people from no more than three households. However, this is a limit, not a target and meeting fewer people will mean you are less likely to catch or spread the virus."

Under current guidance, anyone living in a Tier 2 area must:

Not mix with other households indoors

Only meet people outdoors in groups of six or less

Work from home if possible

Reduce the number of journeys they make

This is in addition to washing your hands regularly, wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and staying at least two metres apart from other people – or one metre with a face covering or other precautions.

Full details of what you can and cannot do if you live or work in a Tier 2 area can be found online at: www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-2-high-alert.

From 23 to 27 December 2020, there are different Christmas rules for meeting friends and family: www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-the-christmas-period.