West Berkshire has been placed in Tier 3, along with the rest of Berkshire, having soared from one of the lowest rates in the country to a rate of 158.

The new Covid measures will come in from Saturday, December 19, at 00:01.

Covid cases have spiked in West Berks and the rest of Berkshire following the end of the second lockdown and are currently at their highest level since the beginning of the pandemic.

READ MORE: Reading and the rest of Berkshire placed in tier 3

The Covid case rate in West Berks now stands at 158.4 cases per 100,000 in the last seven days with available data (December 6-12).

This compares to 221.9 in Reading, 185.8 in Wokingham and 222 in Bracknell. However, Windsor & Maidenhead now has the lowest rate in Berkshire.

Slough – which was alraedy in tier 3 – still has the highest rate – 353.1.

Matt Hancock, announcing the tier changes, said: “As we enter the coldest months we must be vigilant and keep this virus under control.

“We must keep suppressing the virus. We have come so far. We mustn’t blow it now.

“The best way for everyone to get out tier restrictions is to pull together.”

As well as Berkshire, the following areas have been placed in tier 3:

  • Buckinghamshire
  • Peterborough
  • Hertfordshire
  • Surrey, except Waverley
  • Hastings and Rother
  • Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant

What will change?

Moving into tier 3, means bars, restaurants and café’s must stay closed, except for delivery or takeaway.

People in Reading were already not permitted to mix households indoors under Tier 2 restrictions, but, from we cannot mix indoors, in private gardens or in most outdoor venues, except with your own household or bubble.

However, we can meet in a group of up to six from other households in public outdoor spaces, such as parks.

READ MORE: Berkshire moves to Tier 3 - what you can and can't do

People are asked not to travel from a Tier 3 area into a Tier 2 unless it is an essential journey such as going to work when you can’t do your job for home.