The difference between Tier 3 and Tier 4 as Greater Manchester enters the harshest Covid-19 restrictions

direct to your inboxA flood 'alert' has been put in force in Greater Manchester today after hours of heavy rainfall overnight.The alert warns of 'possible' flooding around the area of the middle River Mersey catchment area.It includes areas near Bramhall in Stockport, Sale, Altrincham and Urmston.The Environment Agency warned: "Flooding is possible - be prepared."And Transport for Greater Manchester said: "With heavy rain in Greater Manchester this morning, expect flooding in some areas.

direct to your inboxThe latest coronavirus infection rates have been revealed, as cases continue to rise across Greater Manchester.Rates are still rising in all ten boroughs, but week-on-week percentage rises do not appear to be increasing as rapidly as they have in previous days.The average infection rate for England was the same as it was the previous week.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletterYou can sign up very simply by

Wigan by the deadly impact of Covid-19. Two other areas in Greater Manchester - Tameside and Rochdale - are also among the ten boroughs in the country with the highest death rates.

direct to your inboxThe latest infection rates for every local authority in England have been published with one area toppling 1,500.Large numbers of areas of London and the South East are recording rates of more than 1,000 per 100,000 people while all Greater Manchester boroughs continue to fall below the national average of 606.9 per 100,000. However, coronavirus infection rate in Wigan has almost doubled in a week with rises continuing to be recorded in every borough.

direct to your inboxA Greater Manchester Police officer who repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl has been jailed.Farooq Ahmed, 37, walked into a police station with a confession note before Christmas.

direct to your inboxThe streets were empty as Greater Manchester said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in a new year - but many were determined to keep alive at least one tradition.Our video from Werneth Low shows how many parts of Greater Manchester were ablaze with colour as people set off fireworks at midnight to celebrate the arrival of 2021.Around 200 socially distanced people gathered on the popular spot to watch the moment our region said goodbye to 2020 and ushered in the New Year.Car horns

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester was tonight marking a New Year's Eve like no other.It's usually a night we all look forward to.

direct to your inboxIt has been a year like no other.However Great Mancunians have still made headlines across the world, for all sorts of reasons.Here we look at those who have put the region on the map in 2020, a year we will never forget.2020 has undoubtedly belonged to Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford.However it is his incredible work off the pitch which has made the headlines, even more than his impressive goal-scoring feats on it.The Withington-born and Wythenshawe raised

direct to your inboxIt's going to be a very, very different New Year's Eve across Greater Manchester.This has been a year like no other in living memory... 2020 can't end soon enough for many.But with the region's pubs, clubs and bars shut - and a stay at home order now in effect after Greater Manchester entered Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions - there will be no big parties.As the clocks strike midnight, the celebrations will be muted.Manchester city centre will be all but deserted.

direct to your inbox"It's absolutely gut-wrenching."Hair salon owner Jane Nixon describes how she felt as Matt Hancock announced that Greater Manchester would be moving into Tier 4.And it's a feeling thousands of business owners across the region will be familiar with.A change in restrictions, businesses finally being allowed to open then being forced to shut again just a few weeks later.

direct to your inboxAndy Burnham has said that Greater Manchester's move into Tier 4 is "justified" but has encouraged a more national approach.The Mayor of Greater Manchester held his final coronavirus press conference of 2020 after the region was placed under the toughest restrictions.From 00.01 on Thursday, millions of people have been subjected to a stay home order with non-essential businesses also forced to close.During his press conference, Mr Burnham confirmed that the new variant of

direct to your inboxDoctors and paramedics say they are bracing themselves for a new tide of Covid patients to hit Greater Manchester's hospitals within weeks. Speaking as plans for the region's move to Tier 4 were announced and the return to school for secondary pupils was delayed, Dr Carole Gavin, a consultant in Greater Manchester, said concerns were growing as hospitals in the south battle to find beds as infection rates - largely found to be caused by the new mutant strain - rise.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester residents with certain health conditions are expected to be told to begin shielding again as the region is placed under Tier 4 restrictions.The government updated its advice for clinically extremely vulnerable people when it introduced the toughest new level of measures earlier this month.

direct to your inboxAfter another change to coronavirus lockdown rules, we're all trying to get used to what Tier 4 means in practice.Falling just short of a national lockdown, Tier 4 restrictions aim to limit the amount of contact between people to stop the spread of the virus.People are being told to stay at home, unless for valid reasons including work or education.We also have to limit the amount of social contact with family and friends.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester

direct to your inboxA Greater Manchester Police chief has urged people to stay at home in Tier 4 tomorrow night instead of celebrating New Year's Eve as they normally would. Under Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, people are required by law to remain at home unless they need to leave their home for essential reasons.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester and even more areas of England are set to be moved to Tier 4 restrictions from tomorrow.Matt Hancock announce the latest tier review in the House of Commons today, and the new rules will take effect from Thursday December 31. Tier 4 is currently the highest level of Covid-19 measures that can be allocated to an area - with much of the south east and London already under the toughest rules.

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester will move into Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, Matt Hancock has announced.The Health Secretary made the announcement on the region's move into the tightest set of measures as he addressed the House of Commons this afternoon (Wednesday).It means that non-essential shops, hairdressers, gyms, leisure and entertainment venues - such as cinemas - must close on top of normal Tier 3 closures.People will be asked to stay at home where possible - unless there's a

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direct to your inboxGreater Manchester is to be placed into the toughest Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, Matt Hancock has announced.The Health Secretary made an announcement on the tiering review across England in the House of Commons this afternoon, revealing yet more areas will face the strictest restrictions.The aim is to reduce social contact in Tier 4 areas - previously limited to London, parts of the South East and the East of England.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester

direct to your inboxGreater Manchester will move into Tier 4 under a review of the government's Covid-19 restrictions.The Health Secretary made the announcement on the region's move into the tightest set of measures today (Wednesday).Matt Hancock addressed the House of Commons this afternoon to announce changes to local restrictions as infection rates continue to rise across England.Tier 4 is currently the toughest tier and includes the closure of non-essential shops closed and stricter rules on