Thousands of people in Cornwall will face tougher Covid-19 restrictions after Boxing Day as the county jumps into tier 2.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that Cornwall - which had been just one of four places in the 海角视频 under the lowest tier 1 restrictions - would face more restrictions from 12.01am Boxing Day amid the rise of a fast-spreading strain of Covid-19.
Herefordshire - which was downgraded to tier 1 just last week - will also go into tier 2.
Bristol, Gloucester, Somerset and North Somerset - will now go into tier 3.
Devon stays in tier 2.
The news comes as larger swathes of the South East now enter tough tier-4 lockdown - which had already had a big affect on the region with visitors having to cancel festive breaks because of travel restrictions.
Tim Jones, chairman of the South West Business Council said hospitality businesses had been inundated with cancellations.
He said: "It is not good news. This is only going to get worse with tightening restrictions. We estimate that the cost of tier 4 the hospitality industry in the South West is £2million a week. With so many holiday homes in Devon and Cornwall, much of the festive season here is reliant on the South East.
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"We desperately need continuity of the business support that was announced during the first lockdown because people will have to build their business operations around the security of that income.
Essential guide to the new English tier system this Winter
"We cannot keep going with this stop and start policy - it simply is not working."
The tier two rules mean that non-essential retail can remain open but residents cannot socialise with anyone they do not live whether at home or in a public place.
Pubs and bars must close, unless serving meals and hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals.
Malcolm Bell from Visit Cornwall said that entering tier 2 actually gives more clarity for hospitality businesses.
But it does bring more difficulty for pubs that now have to explain to their punters that the rule-of-six and meeting people outside of your household no longer applies.
He said: "Though we were in tier 1, most of our staying guests were coming from tier 2 areas so this does add clarity.
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"Our view is that the more we can do now to get this virus under control now, the better it will be for our new Spring season in 2021.
"If we don't act now, it will not just be a public health issue but an economic issue as well."
He said that the drip feeding of tier changes had done little to help hard pressed businesses who are being forced to get up to speed on dos and don'ts at last minute.
He said: "I hope that in future, the Government will do some scenario planning so we can get fresh guidance within minutes of an announcement rather than waiting for2-3 days."
Kim Conchie, Chief Executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said that Boris Johnson had gone to great lengths to not be the 'spoil sport' at Christmas but the flim-flam over tiers had damaged business.
He said: "The time has come for a long term 15-month strategy that takes us to the end-of-financial year 2022.
"My concern is the cliff edge we have got coming in the Spring of the end of furlough in April coming just a couple of months before the end of the VAT relief holiday coming to an end, business rate relief coming to an end and the bounce back loans having to begin repayments in June.
"Everyone needs to know where they stand and if you're planning for the worst-case scenario and it turns out better than expected then that will be a good thing."
More on the economy of the South West
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