The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“Londoners have done exactly what has been asked of them since the start of this pandemic, and their monumental sacrifice managed to keep the number of cases lower in our city than most other parts of the country since the summer.
“Cases are gradually falling in most boroughs across the capital, and that’s why it is the right decision for London to have been placed in Tier 2 of the new Covid restrictions when lockdown ends on the 2nd of December. However there must be no complacency – we know how quickly this virus can spread and we all need to keep playing our part and drive numbers down further across our city.
“This decision will be a welcome boost for London’s shops, businesses and hospitality venues who were forced to close just as preparations for the Christmas period began. Businesses across London have worked incredibly hard to make their premises Covid-safe, and I am really pleased that they are able to open their doors again.
“Whilst I welcome the Government’s decision to place London in Tier 2, I am extremely disappointed that the Government is sticking with specific measures that seem to cause more harm than good. I am pleased we persuaded the Government to get rid of the 10pm curfew but extending it to 11pm, when it should be scrapped altogether, is a mistake. It is a real blow to pubs, bars and restaurants which have endured such a difficult year and deserve better.
“While we now know what restrictions will be from next Wednesday, there remains almost a week of lockdown still to go and it’s absolutely vital that Londoners continue following the rules to reduce the spread of the virus.
“With the positive news of a vaccine now in sight, it’s crucial we continue to follow the rules and do everything we can to protect the NHS and save lives.”