21 December 2020

This update covers the latest information about what’s happening across the four nations:

  • England
  • Wales
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland

England

Tier 4 restrictions were introduced in parts of England from Sunday, 20 December. Tier 4 restrictions include the closure of all close contact services, including mobile, in the following areas:

  • London (all 32 boroughs)
  • Kent
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Berkshire
  • Surrey (excluding Waverley)
  • The boroughs of Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings
  • Bedford, Central Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough
  • Hertfordshire
  • Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring)

Salons, barbershops, nail salons, spas, massage parlours, tanning salons and mobile businesses can remain open in tiers 1-3. 

Find out more about tier 4 restrictions on the government website.

The latest tier measures will be reviewed on 30 December. 

Travel for work 

People in tier 4 areas can travel to work in tiers 1, 2 and 3. This includes mobile hairdressers, barbers and therapists. 

All close contact services including mobile must close in tier 4.

Financial support for businesses in England 

Wales

All close contact businesses were required to close from midnight on Friday, 19 December 2020. (The previous closing date announced was Christmas Eve.)

Wales will move to level four on Monday, 28 December. Close contact businesses including mobile cannot operate under level four. They also cannot open between now and 28 December.

This level four lockdown will be reviewed after three weeks.  

Find out more on the Welsh Government website. 

Download a pdf from the Welsh Government website which clearly explains what is allowed under levels one to four.

Financial support for businesses in Wales  

Scotland

From Saturday, 26 December (Boxing Day), most of Scotland will be moved to Level 4 restrictions. This means that all close contact services including mobile, must close.  

The only exceptions will be Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, and the other island communities where restrictions have been reduced in recent weeks. These will be placed in Level 3 which means that in these areas only:  

  • Salons and barbershops can open.
  • Mobile hairdressing and barbering can operate.
  • Close contact services delivered from a salon, shop or other static site such as a home treatment room can operate. 
  • All other types of mobile close contact services are not permitted.

These measures will be kept under regular review.

Find out more on the Scottish Government website. 

Financial support for businesses in Scotland

Northern Ireland

From Saturday, 26 December (Boxing Day), Northern Ireland will enter a six-week lockdown. This means that all close contact services, including mobile, must close.

Within the new measures:

  • Those with a genuine medical need will still be able to access specific hair and beauty services by appointment only but they must provide the appropriate medical records.
  • Make-up artists and hair & beauty practitioners working for film and TV will still be able to operate.
  • Click and collect is banned for non-essential businesses forced to close: this includes hair and beauty businesses.

Find out more on the Northern Ireland Executive website. 

The lockdown measures will be reviewed after four weeks. 

Financial support for businesses in Northern Ireland

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