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UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson to set out three-tier system for England Covid restrictions UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson sets out three-tier system for England, with Liverpool region under strictest tier 3
(32 minutes later)
North-east England, south Yorkshire and Greater Manchester to be in tier 2, local leaders reveal ahead of Commons announcementNorth-east England, south Yorkshire and Greater Manchester to be in tier 2, local leaders reveal ahead of Commons announcement
Jeremy Hunt, the chair of the Commons health committee, says the evidence from China suggests early, localised interventions work best.
Johnson welcomes the comment. He says he hopes local authorities will agree to go into tier 3 when necessary.
In his statement Boris Johnson said “new financial support” worth around £1bn would be made available to local authorities in England. He said:
Johnson is responding to Starmer.
He says Labour used to support the government. Now Starmer has changed tack. But Starmer won’t say what he would do, Johnson says. And he says Starmer is not supporting the local leaders who support these measures.
Sir Keir Starmer is responding for Labour.
He says he is not convinced that the PM has a strategy to deal with the disease.
Public confidence has been eroded, he says.
Why does he think these measures will get the virus under control?
Will local leaders get control of test and trace?
And does he accept local businesses need more support?
He says he hopes the measures will work. But MPs will be “deeply sceptical” whether they can.
Johnson says R is between 1.2 and 1.5. But its natural level is between 2.7 and 3. So it is already being suppressed.
But we need to go further, he says.
He says local rules are now hard to follow, and hard to enforce.
So they will be simplified, he says.
There will be three levels.
The medium level [tier 1] will cover most of England. It will feature the current rules - the rule of six and 10pm closing for pubs.
The high alert level [tier 2] will cover most areas under current restrictions. He says people here will not be able to mix with other households indoors. Nottinghamshire, east and west Cheshire and a small area of High Peak will be included.
The very high alert level [tier 3] will have a baseline of measures. In these places household mixing will be banned, and all pubs and bars will be closed.
Johnson says the government has agreed with the Liverpool city region that it will go into tier 3. As well as the baseline, gyms, leisure centres, betting shops, adult gaming centres and casinos will be closed.
Johnson says just letting the virus spread amongst the young is not an option either.
It would spread with such velocity it would affect older people.
And some young people would be badly affected, he says.
Boris Johnson is speaking now.
There are more people in hospital than when we went into lockdown on 23 March, and deaths are rising, he says.
But he says he does not accept that we should have another full lockdown.
On the other hand, some argue that the patience of the public is exhausted, and that we should abandon restrictions and let the disease take its course.
But, he says, the “bleak mathematics” of that would lead to many deaths, and the NHS being overwhelmed.
And Birmingham will be in tier 2 too, says the Birmingham Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill.
From Sky’s Aubrey Allegretti
Boris Johnson will be making his Commons statement about the new three-tier local lockdown regime for England shortly.Boris Johnson will be making his Commons statement about the new three-tier local lockdown regime for England shortly.
In Northern Ireland 877 more coronavirus cases have been recorded, and three further deaths. The details are here.In Northern Ireland 877 more coronavirus cases have been recorded, and three further deaths. The details are here.
A week ago today the Department of Health in Northern Ireland recorded just 616 new cases, and no deaths.A week ago today the Department of Health in Northern Ireland recorded just 616 new cases, and no deaths.
Here is another MP complaining about the government briefing operations about the new local lockdown rules. Kate Osborne is the Labour MP for Jarrow.Here is another MP complaining about the government briefing operations about the new local lockdown rules. Kate Osborne is the Labour MP for Jarrow.
Public Health Wales has recorded 487 new coronavirus cases and four further deaths. The details are here.Public Health Wales has recorded 487 new coronavirus cases and four further deaths. The details are here.
The number of cases is marginally up on yesterday (467) but well down on the total for last Monday (596).The number of cases is marginally up on yesterday (467) but well down on the total for last Monday (596).
And the number of deaths is two more than yesterday, and four more than a week ago today (when none were recorded.)And the number of deaths is two more than yesterday, and four more than a week ago today (when none were recorded.)
London is likely to be placed at the lowest of the government’s new three-tier coronavirus alert level, it is understood, but with the expectations it could be moved to the middle tier very soon.London is likely to be placed at the lowest of the government’s new three-tier coronavirus alert level, it is understood, but with the expectations it could be moved to the middle tier very soon.
The news about which areas will be in which tier should follow soon after Boris Johnson formally announces the much-briefed new system to the Commons this afternoon, with some local authority leaders already told.The news about which areas will be in which tier should follow soon after Boris Johnson formally announces the much-briefed new system to the Commons this afternoon, with some local authority leaders already told.
It is understood that officials in London anticipate being put on the lowest level, known as medium, at first, but that it could be moved to the next level, high, potentially within days.It is understood that officials in London anticipate being put on the lowest level, known as medium, at first, but that it could be moved to the next level, high, potentially within days.
The rules on what activities will or will not be allowed under each tier will also be announced by Johnson.The rules on what activities will or will not be allowed under each tier will also be announced by Johnson.
London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, warned last week that rising infection rates meant it was “inevitable” that the capital would soon see tougher restrictions.London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, warned last week that rising infection rates meant it was “inevitable” that the capital would soon see tougher restrictions.
South Yorkshire will be in tier 2, according to Dan Jarvis, the Labour MP and mayor of Sheffield city region.South Yorkshire will be in tier 2, according to Dan Jarvis, the Labour MP and mayor of Sheffield city region.
NHS England has recorded 36 further coronavirus hospital deaths. There were 14 deaths in the north-west, 14 in the north-east and Yorkshire, three in London, two in the Midlands, two in the east of England, one in the south-east and none in the south-west. The details are here.NHS England has recorded 36 further coronavirus hospital deaths. There were 14 deaths in the north-west, 14 in the north-east and Yorkshire, three in London, two in the Midlands, two in the east of England, one in the south-east and none in the south-west. The details are here.
Last Monday 10 deaths were recorded.Last Monday 10 deaths were recorded.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has welcomed the news that Greater Manchester will be placed in tier 2.Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has welcomed the news that Greater Manchester will be placed in tier 2.
Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, has described as “crass” an advert for a government reskilling campaign suggesting ballet dancers should retrain as IT experts.Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, has described as “crass” an advert for a government reskilling campaign suggesting ballet dancers should retrain as IT experts.
Here is one of the many people in the arts world who has been angrily tweeting about it.Here is one of the many people in the arts world who has been angrily tweeting about it.
The Labour MP for Wigan (and shadow foreign secretary) Lisa Nandy thinks she may have been left out of a briefing for Greater Manchester MPs because officials did not know where her constituency was.
The Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price, has called on the Welsh government to act at once to ban people from travelling from high infection areas in England into Wales.
Welsh ministers have said they are disappointed that Boris Johnson has not stopped people travelling out of Covid-19 hotspots and are considering their next steps. Price said:
Care homes visits in Scotland will be extended indoors and in some cases hand-holding will be allowed, with PPE, the Scottish government’s health secretary, Jeane Freeman, told the Scottish government briefing. The changes she announced to guidelines will no doubt be welcomed by relatives who have been lobbying for relaxations to the rules for some months.
As we reported last week, anxious relatives have shared heart-breaking stories of separation from loved ones - in particular about the toll that prolonged isolation is taking on those with dementia - who relied on daily stimulation from visitors.
In his press conference earlier Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, said coronavirus cases were higher in the north of England now because they were higher there than in the south of England when England came out of lockdown in the summer. (See 11.44am.) Responding to a journalist, Van-Tam said:
Andy Burnham, who said at the time that lockdown measures were being eased too soon, has taken this as vindication.
Nick Forbes, the Labour mayor of Newcastle city council, has posted a thread on Twitter about the north-east of England being put in tier 2 - and spared the more restriction tier 3 lockdown measures. (See 1.13pm.) It starts here.
Here is the full announcement from the Department for Education about GCSEs and A levels in England being delayed next summer to allow more time for catch-up teaching. (See 12.57pm.)
A man was fined £10,000 after police found 80 guests at a wedding party, PA Media reports. Essex police said officers received reports of the large gathering at Ariana Gardens in Margaretting at around 4.15pm on Sunday. The venue is described on its website as “Essex’s most magical and enchanting wedding venue”. When officers arrived they found approximately 80 guests enjoying a sit-down dinner.Essex police’s assistant chief constable, Andy Prophet, said:
Boris Johnson will announce a £28m package of support for areas with the strictest coronavirus restrictions, MPs in Merseyside have been told.
This will include £14m for clinically vulnerable people and to support enforcement action, and a further £14m to bolster local test and trace systems.
It is further understood that “food-based pubs” will be allowed to stay open in areas with the tightest restrictions – while bars and pubs that do not serve substantial food will have to close.
This is likely to lead to significant confusion given the vast amount of pubs that do serve food, such as Wetherspoons venues which appear to be allowed to remain open under the new rules.
MPs were told that they would get a vote on whether to extend the measures every four weeks.