This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/01/ban-mixing-pubs-restaurants-merseyside-expected-coronavirus

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Coronavirus: ban on mixing in pubs and restaurants in Merseyside expected Hancock announces Covid restrictions in Merseyside, Warrington and Teesside
(about 2 hours later)
Mayor says restriction similar to one in north-east likely to be announced on Thursday More than 2 million people will be banned mixing with other households indoors in latest local lockdown
More than 1.5 million people in Merseyside are expected to be banned from mixing in pubs and restaurants under “draconian” new coronavirus rules due to be announced on Thursday. More than 2 million people in Merseyside, Warrington and Teesside will be banned by law from mixing with other households indoors in the latest extension of lockdown restrictions.
Joe Anderson, the mayor of Liverpool, said he expected an announcement on further restrictions for the region on Thursday morning following a meeting chaired by Boris Johnson. The decision was announced by Matt Hancock, the health secretary, in the Commons following a meeting chaired by Boris Johnson on Thursday.
He said households were likely to be banned from mixing in public venues, as they have been for 2 million people in the north-east of England. Under the new rules, which are an extension of the powers introduced in north-east England earlier this week, it will be illegal for families to meet others they do not live with in all indoor settings including pubs, bars and restaurants.
“We’ve already been told there will be restrictions and regulations put in place similar to Newcastle and the north-east, so we expect that, but potentially also the government might introduce even stricter measures so we’ve just got to wait now and see what they announce,” he told BBC Breakfast. The measures will apply across Merseyside as well as Warrington, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool. It was not immediately clear when the new rules would come into force.
Hancock told MPs: “We recommend against all social mixing between people in different households. We will bring in regulations, as we have in the north-east, to prevent in law social mixing between different households in all settings except outdoor public spaces like parks and outdoor hospitality.”
The rules will also recommend against all but essential travel on public transport, attending amateur or professional sports events, and only visiting care homes in exceptional circumstances.
Hancock said a £7m support package would be made available to councils in all affected areas.
Hancock said: “I understand how much of an imposition this is. I want rules like this to stay in place for as short a time as possible, I’m sure we all do.
“The study published today shows us hope that together we can crack this and the more people follow the rules and reduce their social contact, the quicker we can get Liverpool and the north-east back on their feet.”
He also announced the reopening of Bolton’s hospitality industry, two days after the town’s Conservative council leader told the Guardian the area had been “forgotten” since its pubs, restaurants and bars were restricted to takeaway-only three weeks ago.
Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said he supported the new measures but that areas needed urgent financial support otherwise “existing inequalities, which themselves have a health impact and allow the virus to thrive, will be exacerbated”.
He added: “People need clarity as well. Areas like Leicester, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Bradford have had restrictions imposed on them for months now. Millions of people in these local lockdown areas just need some reassurance that an end is in sight.”
Hancock was unable to say when restrictions would be lifted in those areas but said the measures were “vital for suppressing the virus”.
Coronavirus cases in Merseyside are averaging more than 200 per 100,000 people – more than four times the England average – with Liverpool and Knowsley recording the highest infection rates in England.Coronavirus cases in Merseyside are averaging more than 200 per 100,000 people – more than four times the England average – with Liverpool and Knowsley recording the highest infection rates in England.
Measures that restrict social gatherings in pubs, bars and restaurants – such as those introduced in part of north-east England – would have a particularly significant impact on the Merseyside economy given its reliance on hospitality and tourism. The industries account for half of the business rates that fund public services in Liverpool. Measures that restrict social gatherings in pubs, bars and restaurants – such as those introduced in part of north-east England – will have a particularly significant impact on the Merseyside economy given its reliance on hospitality and tourism. The industries account for half of the business rates that fund public services in Liverpool.
Anderson said the Merseyside restrictions could go further than those in the north-east and that pubs, restaurants and bars could be restricted to takeaway-only – as in Bolton – or limited to customers who pre-book.
Steve Rotheram, the metro mayor of the Liverpool city region, and six civic leaders, warned on Wednesday that Merseyside’s public finances were “at breaking point” and they needed a “comprehensive package of financial support” from the Treasury when new lockdown measures are imposed.Steve Rotheram, the metro mayor of the Liverpool city region, and six civic leaders, warned on Wednesday that Merseyside’s public finances were “at breaking point” and they needed a “comprehensive package of financial support” from the Treasury when new lockdown measures are imposed.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday the new measures were likely to be “more draconian than we already have”. Rotheram said some suggested restrictions, limiting the number of people at weddings and funerals, would have an “emotional impact” on people but that he accepted that action must be taken. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday:
“All of our figures are going badly in the wrong direction. We’re seeing exponential growth in the number of cases, we’ve seen hospital admissions start to be impacted now. We will unfortunately see the resulting deaths.”“All of our figures are going badly in the wrong direction. We’re seeing exponential growth in the number of cases, we’ve seen hospital admissions start to be impacted now. We will unfortunately see the resulting deaths.”
However, Rotheram said it was important that the government set out a “roadmap” for exiting the restrictions because other areas had been stuck in what he described as a “Hotel California situation” where they can never get out.However, Rotheram said it was important that the government set out a “roadmap” for exiting the restrictions because other areas had been stuck in what he described as a “Hotel California situation” where they can never get out.
George Eustice, the environment secretary, said local restrictions would be lifted once the infection rate in those areas “gets back more in line with the national trend”.George Eustice, the environment secretary, said local restrictions would be lifted once the infection rate in those areas “gets back more in line with the national trend”.
In a joint statement, the political leaders said their local authorities had already incurred losses of more than £350m since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Senior figures believe more than 20,000 jobs could be lost in the hospitality industry by Christmas without urgent support.In a joint statement, the political leaders said their local authorities had already incurred losses of more than £350m since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Senior figures believe more than 20,000 jobs could be lost in the hospitality industry by Christmas without urgent support.
They said: “We are already at breaking point. With new restrictions – and who knows for how long they might be needed? – our economy and public services may collapse. If we do not act now, we will see a legacy of unemployment and ill-health that will cost lives for generations to come. So, today, we are calling on the government to work with us. They said: “We are already at breaking point. With new restrictions – and who knows for how long they might be needed? – our economy and public services may collapse. If we do not act now, we will see a legacy of unemployment and ill-health that will cost lives for generations to come. So, today, we are calling on the government to work with us.”
“If government decide that new restrictions are required, they must also provide a comprehensive package of financial support for our economy and our public services.”