ANDOVER has been placed in Tier Two of the government’s new coronavirus measures which will come into force when lockdown ends next week.

The government has announced Hampshire would be placed on ‘High Alert’ - the middle of three new classes of restrictions.

For those living in the county, this means they will not be able to socialise indoors with anyone they don’t live with or anyone who is not in their current support bubble.

However, groups of up to six can meet outside in gardens or public places.

For the hospitality industry, pubs and bars must close unless operating as restaurants while venues can only serve alcohol with ‘substantial meals’.

Places of worship can remain open with weddings and funerals allowed to go ahead, with restrictions on attendees.

Cllr Phil North, leader of Test Valley Borough Council, said it was ‘disappointing’ that Hampshire was not placed in Tier One and expressed his concern for the business community.

Andover’s current infection rate is lower than the national average, with a rate of 100 infections for every 100,000 residents.

In the last seven days, 102 people in the Test Valley region tested positive for coronavirus with one person passing away. This is down from 125 infections the week previously and five deaths.

However as a county, Hampshire has seen a marked rise in hospital admissions with 1,108 new patients in the last week.

Also in this week’s paper:

- Jobs at risk as distribution centre to close

- Council votes to consult on bringing more taxis to town

- Pensioner collects 65 trollies in his back garden to clean up estate

- Sex offender back in court

- Pupils make Christmas cards for blind veterans

- Abbotts Ann house faces demolition depending on appeal outcome

- Man gets an A-Level at the age of 60 with Andover history book

- Football matches to resume after lockdown

- Two pages of YOUR letters

- And much, much more

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