With coronavirus cases rising at an alarming rate in Berkshire, more people could face stricter Tier 2 restrictions across the county.

Slough will be the first borough to enter Tier 2, with new measures coming into place from midnight on Saturday (October 24), Tan Dhesi MP and Matt Hancock have confirmed.

The area is now considered as “high risk”, with infection rates higher than 100 cases per 100,000 people.

Read more: Slough enters Tier 2 as COVID cases rise at an alarming rate

Under Tier 2, residents won’t be able to meet their loved ones in any indoor settings, though they will still be able to meet outdoors – as long they continue to apply the rule of six.

Local authorities in Windsor & Maidenhead are in talks with the government, and could soon follow in Slough steps.

Figures from October 5 to 11 show Windsor & Maidenhead had a rate of 91.8 cases per 100,000 people.

Read more: What are Tier 2 restrictions in Slough? 

Meanwhile, in Wokingham Borough Council the current infection rate is 74 cases per 100,000. However, Meradin Peachey, director of Public Health Berkshire, has said rates could rise up to a 100 by the end of October, meaning the council would have to move to Tier 2.

Bracknell Forest continues to be categorised as Tier 1, but the council has warned tougher rules could follow if the spread of coronavirus in the area isn’t slowed down.

In Reading, cases are also rising sharply, with a possible rate of 79 cases per 100,000 people – though the latest figures are not finalised.