Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new measures last night (Monday, January 4), saying they were needed to curb the rapid spread of Covid-19 and bring the new more transmissible variant under control.
Under Tier 4 measures, shops deemed ‘non-essential’ were forced to close in Chesterfield and across Derbyshire before the national lockdown was imposed.
While the town centre was quieter today with people told to ‘stay at home’ by the government, it certainly wasn’t empty- with shoppers pictured picking up essential items such as groceries and medicine as well as people heading out for daily exercise.
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1. 'STAY AT HOME'
Shopping for 'essential' items is one of the 'reasonable excuses' open to Chesterfield residents when leaving their homes. The government has repeated its 'stay at home' message we saw back in March after Covid-19 rates spiralled out of control. Photo: Brian Eyre
2. GHOST TOWN
Non-essential shops were closed in the town after Derbyshire was escalated to Tier 4 a week ago. Under the latest measures, all non-essential shops across the country have been told to down shutters. Photo: Brian Eyre
3. EERIE
It's still strange to see most shops closed during what should be another bustling weekday in Chesterfield. Photo: Brian Eyre
