THE LEADER of Bracknell Forest Council has responded to claims the borough could be placed into tier three coronavirus restrictions next week.

An article from Metro.co.uk appeared to suggest four areas in the UK were on the verge of going into the highest tier next week because of their rising coronavirus case rate.

Based on data from a COVID Symptom Study app, Bracknell Forest was one of the areas named by Metro which could face moving up a tier due to its increasing infection rate, along with the rest of Berkshire.

The other three areas named were Suffolk, Wiltshire and Swindon.

READ MORE: Bracknell Forest is currently in tier two -- what this means for you

Since the second national lockdown ended on December 2, Bracknell Forest’s coronavirus case rate has risen from 87.3 to 159.1 per 100,000 over the past seven days, according to the latest available date from the government.

The government will announce which areas will face which restrictions on Thursday, December 17.

Responding to claims Bracknell Forest could be moved up to tier three from tier two, council leader Paul Bettison told the News he was speaking to ministers later today when he would hope to learn more from the government.

He added: “I’m anticipating we won’t hear what’s going to happen but we will certainly understand the mood music a little more.

“When they first announced these tiers, we were told the government didn’t want to have anybody have their first move up.

“That is why councils like us went into the last lockdown in tier one and came out in tier two on the basis that gave that us more opportunity to move down rather than up.”

Speaking about the rising case rates, Cllr Bettison continued: “It concerns me, and anybody else who says they’re not concerned is very strange indeed.

“It concerns me, especially because we have Christmas coming up and we had all anticipated a spike by Christmas.

READ MORE: Bracknell Forest tier two placement 'frustrating', leader says

“One of the problems with tier three is we’re only just finding out about the qualifications and what qualifies you.

“It’s not as simple as a number. It also involves your direction and speed of travel, and that’s a little worrying because our speed of travel is incredible at the moment, in the wrong way.

“We shall be listening on the 17th with keen interest. If we don’t get it on the 17th we shall listen again on the 30th with keen interest.

“It is concerning and my Christmas message this year is going to be ‘hands, face, space, keep it up’.

“Covid doesn’t have Christmas off.

READ MORE: Readers react to news Bracknell Forest will be placed in tier two

“It’s that happy traditional Christmas theme where everybody is sitting around the table with the crackers and the Christmas tree and decorations, it seems like a very safe place.

“But the uninvited guest is covid and it could be joining you for Christmas lunch.

“People have got to be very, very careful.”

How does tier three differ from tier two?

In tier two you are not allowed to mix with other households indoors, and this is the same in tier three except for in support bubbles.

You cannot meet with other households in most outdoor places except parks and public gardens in tier three, however, whereas you can in a group of six in tier two.

One of the key differences is how the tiers affect hospitality. In tier two, pubs and bars must close, unless operating as a restaurant and serving substantial meals. In tier two, hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals and must stop taking orders at 10pm before closing at 11pm.

In tier three the rules are much more strict — hospitality venues must close and can only sell food through takeaway, drive-thru or delivery.

Shops are allowed to remain open in tier three, as they are in tier two.

Indoor leisure venues, such as gyms, can still welcome users but are not allowed to hold group activity sessions in tier three.

Accommodation is closed in the higher tier, but is allowed to stay open in tier two.

Indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and bowling alleys must shut down in tier three, a harsher restriction compared to tier two areas where they are allowed to stay open.