MILLIONS more people around the country have been plunged into the highest Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions today due to soaring infection rates as Bolton, currently in Tier 3, shows a slight increase in infections.

Latest figures show that, in Bolton, in the week ending December 25 439 people tested positive, an increase of just 0.7 per cent on the previous week. Th infection rate in Bolton now stands at 156.1 per 100,000 of population.

As a whole England, in the seven days to December 20, saw the infection rate stand at 354.9 cases per 100,000 of population.

Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire have moved to Tier 4.

Parts of Essex still in Tier 2, Waverley in Surrey and Hampshire including Portsmouth and Southampton, but with the exception of the New Forest, also moved into the toughest tier.

In Tier 4, no household mixing is allowed, though one person can meet one other person outside in a public space, while all non-essential shops and businesses must close, including personal care and indoor entertainment.

Nobody can enter or leave Tier 4 areas and residents must not stay overnight away from home.

Meanwhile, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset including the North Somerset council area, Swindon, the Isle of Wight, the New Forest and Northamptonshire plus Cheshire and Warrington up to Tier 3, with the same restrictions which have been imposed on Greater Manchester for weeks.

No household mixing is allowed indoors or outdoors, except in parks and public gardens.

All hospitality is closed, except for takeaways and deliveries, and accommodation and entertainment venues are shut.

Cornwall and Herefordshire are moving up to Tier 2 from today where the main restrictions are no household mixing allowed indoors, but the “rule of six” applies outdoors.

Hospitality venues are closed unless serving substantial meals with drinks, while large sport and entertainment events are allowed but with a very limited audience.

The Isles of Scilly, which has a population of just 2,000 people, is the only area of England remaining in Tier 1.

In the lowest alert level, the “rule of six” must apply indoors and outdoors, while there must be table service in hospitality venues, with last orders at 10pm and closing time at 11pm.