THURROCK faces an anxious wait to see which tier it will be in when the government allows England to step out of lockdown after midnight on Wednesday, 2 December.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the nation this afternoon (Monday, 23 November) that England's second national lockdown will be lifted and a revised three-tiered system of restrictions will allow shops, gyms and hairdressers to reopen across the country.

There are significant differences between Tier One, which Thurrock was in when England went into its second lockdown three weeks ago and Tier Two, which Essex County Council voluntarily placed itself.

Which tier regions are in after lockdown may change, as Mr Johnson said he expected to announce on Thursday which areas of England will be in which tier - a decision that will be based on local infection rates and pressures on hospitals.

Infection and death rates in Thurrock have risen in recent weeks. Previously Thurrock has been below the national average but in the latest available figures Thurrock is showing 219 cases per 100,000 people in the latest week 13 Nov-19 Nov. The average area in England had 187.

In Thurrock there were 382 cases between 13 and 19 November, up 35 on the previous week

compared with the previous week and there have now been 2,697 in total (up to 23 November) since the pandemic was declared.

That rise may mean that Thurrock is placed into the second tier though the latest number of deaths, last reported formally on 30 October as 165 has now been dropped to 163.

Earlier this week a Thurrock councillor called on the borough council to produce its own figures in a different way to that agree by the government. One time cabinet member Gary Collins indicated he believed the Thurrock figures did not reflect the true situation in Thurrock and were being exaggerated.

Assuming Thurrock remains in Tier One, the following will apply:

Shops, gyms and personal care services will all reopen

Collective worship, weddings and outdoor sports will resume

People will no longer be limited to seeing one other person outdoors

The rule of six will apply in outdoor public spaces

Non-essential foreign travel allowed, subject to quarantine rules

There will be different rules for pubs and spectator sports in the different tiers.

In Tier One, they will be able to open until 11pm with last orders at 22:00

In Tier Two, they can only open if they serve substantial meals. Alcohol can be served with that meal

In Tier three, hospitality venues must close apart from delivery and takeaway

It does look as if spectator sport will be able to resume in Thurrock , which means the non-League sides football sides Aveley FC, East Thurrock United, Grays Athletic and Tilbury FC may be able to resume competitive action, and Thurrock Rugby club may also be allowed to play in front of a viewing public.

All those local clubs meet the criteria of playing before less than 2,000 spectators. Spectator sport cannot resume in Tier Three.

After Thursday's decision about what tier the borough is in, the decision will be formally reviewed every 14 days.