Bolton is set to be put under tier 3 restrictions when the national lockdown ends on December 2.

According to the government's website, Bolton will be placed in tier 3: very high alert."

A statement on the government website clarified why Greater Manchester was placed under tier 3 restrictions.

It said: "While there has been continued improvement in Greater Manchester, weekly case rates remain very high, especially amongst those aged over 60, at around 260 per 100,000 people.

“The pressure on the local NHS is decreasing in some areas but remains a concern; Manchester University hospital and Pennine Acute Trust remain under significant pressure.”

Matt Hancock said that the measures are necessary given the “scale of the threat” faced by the UK.

He told the Commons: “The majority of England will be in Tier 2, but in a significant number of areas I’m afraid (they) need to be in Tier 3 to bring case rates down.

“Now, I know how tough this is, both for areas that have been in restrictions for a long time like Leicester and Greater Manchester, and also for areas where cases have risen sharply like Bristol, the West Midlands and Kent.

“The full allocations have been published this morning and laid as a written ministerial statement just before this statement began.”

He added: “I understand the impact that these measures will have, but they are necessary given the scale of the threat that we face.”

Matt Hancock also added that these tiers will be reviewed in two weeks. 

He said: “The majority of England will be in Tier 2 but a significant number of areas, I’m afraid, need to be in Tier 3 to bring case rates done.

“Now I know how tough this is both for areas that have been in restrictions for a long time like Leicester and Greater Manchester and also for areas where cases have risen sharply recently like Bristol, the West Midlands and Kent.

“The full allocations have been published this morning and laid as a written ministerial statement just before this statement began. I understand the impact that these measures will have but they are necessary given the scale of the threat that we face.

“We’ll review the measures in a fortnight and keep them regularly under review after that.”

He ended his statement saying there is "hope on the horizon" and urged the public to "dig deep".

He said: "The less any one person passes on the disease the faster we can get this disease under control together and that is on all of us.”

“Hope is on the horizon but we still have further to go so we must all dig deep.

“The end is in sight, we mustn’t give up now, we must follow these new rules and make sure that our actions today will save lives in future.”

The leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh, has reacted to the news for Bolton.

He said: "I know there will be a huge amount of frustration and anger out there at the announcement today of further restrictions, which are shared by myself and my colleagues, particularly as our R rate is reducing, but the reality is, although we are improving dramatically and our cases are coming down, we still had 946 new cases in the borough last week, our hospital is packed with Covid patients; and we need to get those figures down even more.

"I give residents my word that when we see our figures reach the level of those areas that are currently in tier 2, which we will achieve under the current trajectory if we continue to follow the guidance, I will be fighting, as I did before, to get our restrictions lifted as soon as possible so that those businesses affected so much by these measures can reopen and our local economy can start to grow again.

"Bolton Council will continue to prioritise getting those grants and additional help out to those businesses affected under tier 3 restrictions, and I urge and businesses who feel they are overlooked or fall between the cracks, to get in touch to see if we can help further.

"We must now work together to continue to get our rates down to enable us to get back to the normality we all want."

Leader of Bolton's Labour group, Cllr Nick Peel, has reacted to the news saying it's unfair that hospitality has been closed again as "they could function" under tier 3.

He said: "Tier 3 was expected but I still feel that a lot of this is unnecessary. Releasing us from the first lockdown led to the second spike and now coming out of this second lockdown, and mixing over Christmas, will only lead to another I think.

"If it gets to that people will start rightfully asking what's the point.

"I think hospitality could have still opened under tier 3.

"Pubs and restaurants were being managed properly when open with limited numbers and social distancing but now we may see a lot of business not recovering from this which is a shame.

"The government could have given local authorities more powers to act on premises that were not following rules. But now hospitality has all been lumped into one so it's now the places that were behaving responsibly that are being punished.

"However, shops will be open again which is definitely a welcome boost.

"It's all about people following the rules, which are pretty straight forward, and that message needs to reinforced by the government more.

"The only way we get out of this is by following the rules and getting the rates down."

The tiers are set to be reviewed on December 16.

What tier 3 restrictions mean:

- Non-essential retail stores are allowed to open.

- Groups of six will only be able to meet in outdoor public spaces, such as parks and sports courts – but not in private gardens.

- Hospitality will be closed except for takeaway.

- Indoor entertainment venues – such as cinemas, theatres, bowling alleys and casinos – will remain closed.

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- People will be told to avoid travelling out of the area other than where necessary and to reduce the number of journeys.

- No overnight stays will be permitted outside the local area, except for work or education, with accommodation to stay closed.

- Weddings and civil partnerships can resume but with only 15 guests, increasing to 30 for funerals. Wedding receptions are banned in Tier 3.

- Places of worship can reopen, but people must not interact with anyone outside their household or support bubble.

- Classes and organised adult sport can take place outdoors, but people are advised to avoid higher-risk contact activity.

- Crowds at elite and live sport will still be banned but drive-in events will be permitted.