Essex has been placed in Tier 2 of the Government’s new coronavirus restrictions system.

It means people will be banned from meeting anyone outside of their household or bubble indoors while the rule of six is back in place indoors.

And in a blow to the county’s hospitality industry, pubs which do not serve food alongside their wet offering will not be allowed to open.

The whole of the county is now in the same tier of restrictions, unlike before the nationwide lockdown, when the Essex County Council area moved into high restrictions, leaving both Southend and Thurrock facing lesser rules.

However, County Hall bosses have moved quickly to declare a desire to move the whole county into Tier 1 “as quickly as possible” - perhaps at the first review of the restrictions on December 16.

John Spence, Essex County Council cabinet member for health, said: “When we recommended entry into tier two, national lockdown had been ruled out as an option.

“Subsequently it re-emerged, so actually, the impact of our recommendation on Essex was short lived.

“However, the decision had a positive impact. In the weeks following entry to Tier 2 there was a significant flattening of the upward curve and regionally, Essex’s case rate reduced, from being in the top three council areas to the bottom two.”

He added: “We recognise that there is still work to be done. We understand that going back into Tier 2 will be hard for many, but we must all work together, follow the restrictions in order to save further lives and continue to protect our NHS.

“We have a clear incentive. Our aim is to bring the rate of transmission and covid hospital occupancy down so that Essex can be placed in the lowest tier of restrictions as quickly as possible.”

In new figures released yesterday, it shows cases continue to rise across the whole of the county with the Essex infection rate now at 151.7 new cases per 100,000 population - up from 141.2 a week earlier.

Basildon has the highest rate in the county council area, with 268.7, followed by Brentwood, with 245.5, and Castle Point, with 210.2.

In Southend, data is collected separately but as of Wednesday, the rate across the borough was 155.6 - significantly down from seven days prior when it was 180.2.

The chaotic handling of the announcement saw an online postcode checker allowing people to check which tier their area would be in launch before the official details were released. However it soon crashed.

In Tier 1, the rule of six applies indoors and outdoors, people are urged to work from home if they can and pubs are limited to table service.

The majority of England will be in Tier 2, where the restrictions mean a ban on households mixing indoors and pubs, and restaurants only able to sell alcohol with a “substantial meal”.