PICTURES show streets were virtually empty as it was announced Brighton and Hove will be in Tier 2 of the government's coronavirus alert system.

As the news was confirmed by the government earlier today, the streets of Brighton and the seafront appeared quiet.

Photographer Simon Dack said it was eerily quiet, but became much busier in the afternoon.

When the national lockdown ends next Wednesday, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex will all be under Tier 2 restrictions.

SEE ALSO: Live updates as all of Sussex to face Tier 2 Covid-19 restrictions

The areas of Sussex with the highest coronavirus rates​

As a result of being placed on "high alert", residents will not be able to mix with other households in any indoor setting.

The Argus:

Pubs and bars must remain closed unless they are operating as restaurants, and hospitality venues can only serve alcohol alongside "substantial" meals.

Businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to provide table service only in premises which sell alcohol, and must stop taking orders after 10pm.

The Argus:

Speaking in the House of Commons today, health secretary Matt Hancock said he would "like to see Sussex get to Tier 1 as soon as is possible", but the infection rate in the county is "still too high".

He said: "The key message to everybody across Sussex is that if we all stick together and we all follow the rules then we know we can get this virus under control.

The Argus:

"And that will then lead directly to the lifting of restrictions which we will regularly review."

READ MORE: MPs react to Brighton in Tier 2 Coronavirus restrictions

To move into Tier 1, Brighton and Hove, East and West Sussex would have to prove they are performing well on:

  • Case detection rates
  • Case detection rates in the over-60s
  • Whether the R number/infection rate is increasing or decreasing
  • The current and potential pressure on the NHS
  • The positivity rate - the number of positive Covid-19 tests as a proportion of the number of tests being carried out.

It comes after Brighton and Hove City Council reported a 50 per cent drop in cases.

The Argus:

The authority said there had been 264 cases of Covid-19 reported in the seven days leading up to November 25.

This gave a weekly rate of 90.8 new cases per 100,000 people in the city, lower than the rate for England which was 218.4 per 100,000.

This also marked a drop of 50 per cent when compared to the figures from the previous seven-day period in Brighton and Hove.