London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 04, 2025

What is the difference between tier four and national lockdown?

What is the difference between tier four and national lockdown?

Boris Johnson has set out England’s third national lockdown to control the soaring spread of coronavirus.

More than three-quarters of England’s population was already under the toughest tier four restrictions, but the Prime Minister responded to an alarming rise in Covid patients by putting the whole of the country under nationwide restrictions.

Police will have enforcement powers over the new rules but tonight Mr Johnson did not set out a time frame for how long they could last but mid February is thought to be the earliest date the country could emerge from lockdown. The public are being urged to adhere to the restrictions immediately, before they are rubber-stamped by MPs.

But what does that mean for people already living under tier four, and how will their lives change in a national lockdown?

How does lockdown differ from tier four?


In tier four, household mixing is banned, non-essential shops are closed, and people may only leave their house for limited reasons, including work, exercise and education.

Rules will be tougher in lockdown, with the PM reverting to his ‘stay at home’ messaging from the first wave.

All primary and secondary schools and colleges will move to remote learning, except for the children of key workers or vulnerable children. Nurseries will remain open.


Non-essential shops are closed in tier four, which doesn’t affect essential shops like supermarkets


And unlike in tier four, university students will not be allowed to return to campus and will be expected to study from their current residence.

Non-essential shops will remain closed. Mr Johnson said residents can leave their homes for shopping for necessities such as food and medicine, but it should only be as infrequently as possible.

Exercise will be allowed – but in lockdown it is preferably limited to once a day – with members of your household or support bubble or one other person from another household, such as if going for a walk or run.

People will be able to go to work if it is impossible to work from home, such as those working in the construction sector or those who are critical workers. All others must work from home.

Like in tier four, places of worship can remain open for individual prayers and communal worship in lockdown, but people should only visit with their household or support bubble. Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and funerals are still allowed with strict limits on attendance.

Elite sport can also continue.

Shielding


Under the national lockdown, those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable – defined by the NHS as those at high risk from Covid-19 – should no longer attend work, school, college or university.

However, that was already the case in tier four areas.

Travel


Travel outside of tier four areas was not permitted, except for work purposes, to travel to education or caring responsibilities, to visit those in your support or childcare bubble or for medical appointments or emergencies.

The Government advised that if you can work from home, then you should.


Working from home is advised


But now people across the country are being told to stay at home other than for limited exceptions.

During the last national lockdown, international travel was banned.

Gyms closed


Gyms were shut during both the first and second national lockdowns, which led to several facilities defying the rules and attempting to stay open in the second lockdown. A number of gym owners were fined as a result.

Gyms in the remaining tier three areas in England could stay open, but were not allowed to do so under tier four.


Gyms are closed under tier four restrictions


Hairdressers


Due to the nature of the close-up contact of these services, hairdressers, barbers, and beauty salons will have to shut their doors under the national lockdown – as they did under tier four, to help stop the spread of Covid-19.

Non-essential shops closed


Shops deemed ‘essential’, including supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, petrol stations, hardware stores, banks, pet shops and post offices were allowed to remain open in tier four.

However, all other stores, which are not deemed essential for everyday life, are not permitted to stay open.

That appears to remain the same in this third national lockdown.

What shops are deemed non-essential?


*  Clothes shops

*  Electronics stores

*  Car showrooms

*  Travel agents

*  Betting shops and adult gaming centres

*  Auction houses

*  Tailors

*  Car washes

*  Tobacco and vape shops

*  Card shops

*  Phone shops

*  Jewellery stores

*  Toy shops

*  Homeware shops

*  Bookstores

*  Music shops

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
×