Dudley is to join the rest of the Black Country authorities in Tier 2 of the national alert system, with further restrictions coming into force from Saturday morning.

While Dudley continues to have the lowest rates of coronavirus in the Black Country, cases, as in much of the country, are rising and a move to the high alert level has been confirmed by the government today.

Latest restrictions

• People must not socialise with anybody outside their household or care or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in public
• People must not socialise in a group of more than six outside, including in a garden or park (other than where specific exemptions apply in law)
• Businesses and venues can continue to operate in a Covid-secure manner, other than those that are already closed in law, and schools, universities and places of worship will remain open
• Pubs, restaurants and bars must continue to close at 10pm. Takeaways can operate after 10pm but only via delivery service, collection or drive through
• Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees, while exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors, and indoors, as long as people are able to avoid mixing with other households and for youth or disability sport.