To find out what lockdown tier your region is in, simply cross-reference your postcode with the colour coded constituency maps available to download from your local post office's FB page. If you don't have a local post office, you can get a map as part of your weekly waste collec

tion. If your waste collection is now fortnightly, you'll have to wait until they do the green/brown/blue/pink/aubergine/vanilla bins on your street (or your neighbour's street if you have a *large* yellow bin, but your next of kin's street if you have a *medium* red bin).

Once you cross-reference your postcode on the map, you'll have a unique four-digit code (your GEB NUMBER). Go to the official government Covid tier website (launching 10th Nov) and input your GEB NUMBER along with two valid mobile phone numbers.

The website will Whatsapp two 17-digit codes to these phone numbers. The first is your GIB NUMBER and the second is your GEBB NUMBER - do *not* get these confused! After receiving your GIB and GEBB NUMBERS, input them into the Serco website once sign up for an account there.

(Sign-up requires 4 valid forms of photo ID and utility bills dating back 10 years, or 15 if you're in a Category Teal constituency. Original copies only.)

Once you've signed in and inputted your GIB and GEBB numbers, the Serco website will Snapchat a QR code to a mobile number (note: for security reasons this must be a different number than the two you entered earlier) which you can use to download the free app on another phone.

Create an account on the app (note that this doesn't use the same account as the Serco website) to create an encrypted GEBBB NUMBER that refreshes every hour. By simply inputting this code into the government's NHS Tierfinder app, you'll be able to find out what you need to do!

To find out your lockdown tier, that is. Which you do by factorising your GEBBB NUMBER until you reach the number of digits specified by the app. If the final digit is between 0 and 5 (excluding 4), your region is in the Medium tier.

If it's between 6 and 8 (excluding 7), your region is in the High tier. If it's 4, 7 or 9, check the *first* digit which will be a 2 or a 6. If it's 2, your region is in the Very High tier. If it's 6, you entered the wrong number and will have to start again.

Yes, England only, unless you live in Berwick-upon-Tweed which is covered by the Scottish system, and Westward Ho! which doesn't work because the system can't handle an exclamation mark. https://twitter.com/numberw1tch/status/1316674945301217281?s=19

Residents of Westward Ho! are advised to refer to the semaphore signals visible every other Wednesday, except following a Bank Holiday when it shifts to the following Tuesday.

All of this comes into force yesterday at midnight.

Now, in order to claim financial support if your place of work is closed, you'll need your GEBBBB NUMBER, which you can get by simply...