Cumbria will enter a Tier 2 lockdown when the national restrictions come to an end next week.
Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health, told the Commons today it was necessary to make the tiers tougher than they were before.
He said: “We have looked at each of the tiers afresh.
“In Tier 1 if you can work from home you should do so.
“In Tier 2, alcohol may only be served in hospitality settings as part of a substantial meal.
“And in Tier 3 indoor entertainment, hotels and other accommodation will have to close along with all forms of hospitality except for delivery and takeaway.”
He said they had listened to local experts and had been guided by the best public health advice and added that more areas than before would be in the top two tiers.
“This is necessary to protect our NHS and keep the virus under control,” said Mr Hancock.
Areas with the lowest COVID-19 case rates were said to be Cornwall, the Isle of White, and the Isles of Scilly, which will go into Tier 1.
“I know many other areas would want to be in Tier 1, I understand that,” said Mr Hancock.
But he stressed that they must make the right judgements guided by the science.
