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| Covid-19: North East households mixing 'against law' | Covid-19: North East households mixing 'against law' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Lockdown measures in north-east England are to be tightened in a bid to halt the rise in Covid-19 cases. | Lockdown measures in north-east England are to be tightened in a bid to halt the rise in Covid-19 cases. |
| Health Secretary Matt Hancock said tougher restrictions were being brought in than those imposed a week ago. | Health Secretary Matt Hancock said tougher restrictions were being brought in than those imposed a week ago. |
| He said mixing between households in any indoor setting, which people are currently advised to avoid, will be against the law from Wednesday and enforceable with fines. | |
| The rate of infections in the region is now more than 100 cases per 100,000. | |
| Mr Hancock told the House of Commons that cases in the region had "risen sharply". | Mr Hancock told the House of Commons that cases in the region had "risen sharply". |
| Under the regulations that came into force on 18 September, almost two million people in Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, and County Durham were banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubbles in private homes and gardens. | Under the regulations that came into force on 18 September, almost two million people in Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, and County Durham were banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubbles in private homes and gardens. |
| They were also advised not to socialise with people outside of their household in any public venue, but that was only guidance and not banned under law. | They were also advised not to socialise with people outside of their household in any public venue, but that was only guidance and not banned under law. |
| Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues also remain limited to table service only and have a 22:00 curfew. | Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues also remain limited to table service only and have a 22:00 curfew. |
| Mr Hancock said: "Unfortunately the number of cases continues to rise sharply. | Mr Hancock said: "Unfortunately the number of cases continues to rise sharply. |
| "We know that a large number of these infections are taking place in indoor settings outside the home. And so, at the request of the local councils with whom we have been working closely, we will introduce legal restrictions on indoor mixing between households in any setting." | "We know that a large number of these infections are taking place in indoor settings outside the home. And so, at the request of the local councils with whom we have been working closely, we will introduce legal restrictions on indoor mixing between households in any setting." |
| Mr Hancock did not say whether visits to other households for informal childcare - such as grandparents looking after children - will still be permitted under the revised rules. | Mr Hancock did not say whether visits to other households for informal childcare - such as grandparents looking after children - will still be permitted under the revised rules. |
| Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes criticised the Health Secretary for the manner in which the announcement was made. | Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes criticised the Health Secretary for the manner in which the announcement was made. |
| "While we have been in discussions with the Government on potential further restrictions, the Secretary of State has once again stood up and announced changes without telling us he was about to do so," he said. | "While we have been in discussions with the Government on potential further restrictions, the Secretary of State has once again stood up and announced changes without telling us he was about to do so," he said. |
| "We want to work constructively with the Government but the way these measures are being communicated in headlines and without detail does nothing for public confidence. | "We want to work constructively with the Government but the way these measures are being communicated in headlines and without detail does nothing for public confidence. |
| "We have demanded clarity on the new restrictions, testing and support for those businesses most affected." | "We have demanded clarity on the new restrictions, testing and support for those businesses most affected." |
| Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. |