Please see the government website for the latest information on the Coronvirus (Covid-19) tier system.

Decisions on which area goes into which tier are primarily based on 5 key epidemiological indicators:

• case detection rates in all age groups
• case detection rates in the over-60s
• the rate at which cases are rising or falling
• positivity rate (the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken)
• pressure on the NHS, including current and projected occupancy

The indicators are designed to provide a full picture of what is happening with the virus in any area so that suitable action can be taken.