This is when Tier 3 will be reviewed and when Leeds could be put into Tier 2

However, Leeds Council said the next review of the tiers would take place on December 30.

Any tier changes announced today by Mr Hancock will come into effect on Saturday 19 December.

There will be a five-day relaxation of restrictions from December 23-27.

Up to three households will be able to congregate for Christmas.

The next review will be in two weeks on December 30.

Here is what we know:

-> Leeds to remain under Tier 3 level Covid restrictions, Government announcesWhat are the key indicators that will primarily determine the restrictions in each area?

Five factors are considered:

– case detection rates in all age groups;

– case detection rates in the over-60s;

– the rate at which cases are rising or falling;

– the positivity rate – the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken;

– pressure on the NHS, including current and projected occupancy.

What did the council say?

The council said it was disappointed by the latest announcement - having previously urged the government to drop Leeds to Tier 2.

"So now is not the time for complacency - the vaccine of course offers great hope and 3,000 people have already has their first vaccine, with plans for 20,000 people in Leeds to have a first vaccine before Christmas and the major vaccination rollout in early January.

"Now more than ever we cannot overstate the importance of continuing to adhering to the rules for just a little longer as our position will be reviewed again on 30th December and Leeds could find itself in a better position if the our indicators continue to remain positive. Think hands, face and space.

"As Leeds remains in Tier 3, individuals, businesses and organisations in the city continue to feel the negative impact of this pandemic. Many people are really struggling with worries about their health and finances. During this next phase, let’s be kind to each other, help each other stay safe and support those who need our help. "

-> Leeds news LIVE: Government to announce decision on Leeds staying in Tier 3 or moving to Tier 2What did Boris Johnson say?

As ministers met to discuss the new allocations, Prime Minister Boris Johnson defied calls to lessen the freedoms being granted over the festive season and instead urged people to have a “smaller, safer” Christmas and avoid the elderly and vulnerable.

What is the current situation in England?

The picture across England was largely one of rising infections, with the latest data showing 255 (81%) of the 315 local areas in England have seen a rise in case rates and 60 (19%) have seen a fall.

The Government said a further 612 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 in the UK as of Wednesday, while a further 25,161 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus were reported.

What are the Covid household mixing rules in full?

The laws to permit people to mix to an extent over Christmas seemed on Thursday to be staying the same in England.

– So what’s the law?

The regulations allow for a five-day “Christmas window” from December 23-27 when people can form exclusive bubbles of up to three households across the UK.

Boris Johnson told the Commons that there was “unanimous agreement” across the four nations “that we should proceed in principle with the existing regulations”.

-> Leeds United supporting dog goes viral after hilarious video of her goal celebrations– What’s the advice for England?

The Prime Minister said that “we don’t want to criminalise people’s long-made plans” but issued a warning for people to be “extremely cautious” over their actions.

He said that individuals should “exercise a high degree of personal responsibility”, particularly when considering meeting elderly people.

-> Why Leeds is staying in Tier 3 - the rates and science explained– Is it the same in Wales?

First Minister Mark Drakeford did not appear to be changing the law for Christmas in Wales but he was changing his advice for the Welsh public.

He said the new position is that “only two households should come together to form an exclusive Christmas bubble” over the five-day period.

“The fewer people we mix with in our homes, the less chance we have of catching or spreading the virus,” he said.

“None of us wants to be ill this Christmas. And we don’t want to give coronavirus to our close family or friends.”

Wales will then go into full lockdown from December 28 to last an initial three weeks.

-> Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has 34 per cent drop in cancer diagnostic scans through Covid year– And Scotland?

Nicola Sturgeon said that her “strong recommendation” is that people do not mix households over the period in what is “unequivocally the safest way to spend Christmas”.

The Scottish First Minister said that meetings should take place outdoors if possible but if it was “essential” to meet inside then she advised people to meet for only one day and to not stay overnight.

Ms Sturgeon urged people against travelling between areas of high and low infection rates and asked people to consider “postponing” Christmas.

“The reality is that this Christmas simply can’t be normal. But we have every reason to hope that next year’s will be much more normal,” she added.

– How about Northern Ireland?

First Minister Arlene Foster said people needed to take “all and every precaution” when they come together at Christmas but could not rule out further restrictions in the days afterwards.

Health Minister Robin Swann is due to bring proposals for further Covid-19 restrictions to the Stormont executive on Thursday but Mrs Foster said she did not expect a recommendation for new measures to be introduced before the festive break.

Mrs Foster said she noted the more stringent advice on household mixing from her counterpart in Wales but added: “I am not going to prejudge what the minister is going to bring to us but undoubtedly we will have something to say tomorrow and over the next few days.”

– Legally speaking, will it be a normal Christmas?

Not at all. The tiered restrictions largely still do apply.

For example, pubs and restaurants in Tier 3 areas will not be open for business as usual over Christmas.

– What do the experts make of it all?

Two top medical journals have called for the Government to call off its “rash” decision.

In a rare joint editorial, the British Medical Journal and Health Service Journal said the Government “is about to blunder into another major error that will cost many lives”.

They added that the Government had been too slow to introduce restrictions in the spring and again in the autumn, and restrictions were needed over Christmas ahead of a “likely third wave”.

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