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| UK coronavirus live: north-east England to be in tier 2, council leaders told, leaving pubs and restaurants open | UK coronavirus live: north-east England to be in tier 2, council leaders told, leaving pubs and restaurants open |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Measure means it would be unlawful for two households to meet indoors; Boris Johnson to reveal plan for country to be graded in three tiers | Measure means it would be unlawful for two households to meet indoors; Boris Johnson to reveal plan for country to be graded in three tiers |
| 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: | 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. | 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. | 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.) | 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: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | MPs were told that they would get a vote on whether to extend the measures every four weeks. |
| A hospital which was forced to stop accepting emergency admissions in July after a Covid outbreak traced back to a physical training session described by a doctor as a “super-spreading event”, has been rated inadequate by the care regulator. | A hospital which was forced to stop accepting emergency admissions in July after a Covid outbreak traced back to a physical training session described by a doctor as a “super-spreading event”, has been rated inadequate by the care regulator. |
| The Guardian revealed in July that the A&E closure at Hillingdon hospital, in Boris Johnson’s constituency, was, according to an inquiry, caused by nurses not wearing face masks or staying 2 metres apart at a training session on 30 June, where a nurse with coronavirus unwittingly infected 16 others. | The Guardian revealed in July that the A&E closure at Hillingdon hospital, in Boris Johnson’s constituency, was, according to an inquiry, caused by nurses not wearing face masks or staying 2 metres apart at a training session on 30 June, where a nurse with coronavirus unwittingly infected 16 others. |
| In an internal email, the hospital’s chief executive, Sarah Tedford, blamed staff for the outbreak despite being pictured herself without a face mask while at the hospital, the Guardian also revealed. | In an internal email, the hospital’s chief executive, Sarah Tedford, blamed staff for the outbreak despite being pictured herself without a face mask while at the hospital, the Guardian also revealed. |
| On 17 August, Tedford announced she was resigning, citing “family reasons”. | On 17 August, Tedford announced she was resigning, citing “family reasons”. |
| Today, the Care Quality Commission said that its inspectors visited the hospital at the beginning of August and rated it inadequate overall. The areas where it was found to be inadequate were specifically safety and leadership respectively. | Today, the Care Quality Commission said that its inspectors visited the hospital at the beginning of August and rated it inadequate overall. The areas where it was found to be inadequate were specifically safety and leadership respectively. |
| It ordered the hospital to improve infection prevention for medical staff, monitor and ensure that they all wear PPE correctly at all times and ensure patients were socially distanced while queuing for assessment at the urgent treatment centre. | It ordered the hospital to improve infection prevention for medical staff, monitor and ensure that they all wear PPE correctly at all times and ensure patients were socially distanced while queuing for assessment at the urgent treatment centre. |
| In Northern Ireland Robin Swann, the health minister, has confirmed that a paper from the chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride, and the chief scientific adviser, Prof Ian Young, was presented to the first and deputy first minsters last night. It proposes further restrictions for Northern Ireland. | In Northern Ireland Robin Swann, the health minister, has confirmed that a paper from the chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride, and the chief scientific adviser, Prof Ian Young, was presented to the first and deputy first minsters last night. It proposes further restrictions for Northern Ireland. |
| Swann told the Northern Ireland assembly: | Swann told the Northern Ireland assembly: |
| The paper reportedly proposes tighter measures lasting four to six weeks. | The paper reportedly proposes tighter measures lasting four to six weeks. |
| Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader at Westminster, told BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show that he would “need to be convinced” something like this was justified. He said: | Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader at Westminster, told BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show that he would “need to be convinced” something like this was justified. He said: |
| Politicians in Greater Manchester - both MPs and local leaders - have been very vocal in opposing the closure of hospitality businesses as part of the imminent tightening of lockdown measures. That’s because they do not accept that most of local infections derive from pubs, cafes and restaurants. | Politicians in Greater Manchester - both MPs and local leaders - have been very vocal in opposing the closure of hospitality businesses as part of the imminent tightening of lockdown measures. That’s because they do not accept that most of local infections derive from pubs, cafes and restaurants. |
| Lucy Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, says that data from local test and trace suggests just 9% of recent Covid infections in Manchester came from hospitality settings. “The vast majority of infections here happen in households, which includes student halls of residence,” she said. | Lucy Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, says that data from local test and trace suggests just 9% of recent Covid infections in Manchester came from hospitality settings. “The vast majority of infections here happen in households, which includes student halls of residence,” she said. |
| In nearby Stockport, that figure is just 2%, according to William Wragg, the local Conservative MP for Hazel Grove. | In nearby Stockport, that figure is just 2%, according to William Wragg, the local Conservative MP for Hazel Grove. |
| Powell was scathing about a slide shown to northern MPs last week by a cabinet office official. The slide, which carried the capitalised health warning “THIS DATA IS UNPUBLISHED, EARLY ANALYSIS”, suggested that hospitality accounted for 30% of common exposure settings (including workers in such venues). | Powell was scathing about a slide shown to northern MPs last week by a cabinet office official. The slide, which carried the capitalised health warning “THIS DATA IS UNPUBLISHED, EARLY ANALYSIS”, suggested that hospitality accounted for 30% of common exposure settings (including workers in such venues). |
| “Even the guy presenting that slide didn’t really buy it,” said Powell. She called on the government to produce evidence to prove that hospitality is a significant source of infections. She said: | “Even the guy presenting that slide didn’t really buy it,” said Powell. She called on the government to produce evidence to prove that hospitality is a significant source of infections. She said: |
| Closing Greater Manchester’s hospitality industry would affect thousands of businesses. According to research from Altus Group, in Greater Manchester there are 1,809 pubs, 1,174 restaurants, 143 wine bars, 258 hotels and guest houses, 12 casinos and gambling clubs, 277 betting offices, 22 cinemas and 308 gyms. | Closing Greater Manchester’s hospitality industry would affect thousands of businesses. According to research from Altus Group, in Greater Manchester there are 1,809 pubs, 1,174 restaurants, 143 wine bars, 258 hotels and guest houses, 12 casinos and gambling clubs, 277 betting offices, 22 cinemas and 308 gyms. |
| Pubs, bars and restaurants will be allowed to remain open in the north-east of England under the new restrictions due to be announced by Boris Johnson this afternoon. | Pubs, bars and restaurants will be allowed to remain open in the north-east of England under the new restrictions due to be announced by Boris Johnson this afternoon. |
| The Guardian has learned that council leaders in the north-east were told by the communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, and Sir Eddie Lister, one of the prime minister’s closest aides, that they will be in the tier 2 restrictions due to be outlined later. | The Guardian has learned that council leaders in the north-east were told by the communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, and Sir Eddie Lister, one of the prime minister’s closest aides, that they will be in the tier 2 restrictions due to be outlined later. |
| Tier 2 restrictions mean it will be unlawful for two households to meet in any indoor setting, including pubs and restaurants, and people will be advised to use public transport in only exceptional cases. | Tier 2 restrictions mean it will be unlawful for two households to meet in any indoor setting, including pubs and restaurants, and people will be advised to use public transport in only exceptional cases. |
| The prime minister is expected to announce significant new powers for local authorities to take enforcement action against businesses that are not Covid compliant. A new “public health provision” will be brought into force allowing environmental health officers to quickly close premises - such as pubs and bars - that are not sticking to the rules.However, some council leaders in the north-east were left disappointed after being told there would not be any new financial support for areas in tier 2. One local leader on the call said: | The prime minister is expected to announce significant new powers for local authorities to take enforcement action against businesses that are not Covid compliant. A new “public health provision” will be brought into force allowing environmental health officers to quickly close premises - such as pubs and bars - that are not sticking to the rules.However, some council leaders in the north-east were left disappointed after being told there would not be any new financial support for areas in tier 2. One local leader on the call said: |
| At this stage, it is thought that Merseyside will be the only place in England where the stricter tier 3 measures will apply – meaning pubs and bars have to close. | At this stage, it is thought that Merseyside will be the only place in England where the stricter tier 3 measures will apply – meaning pubs and bars have to close. |
| However, this has yet to be confirmed and much has already changed in the past 72 hours. MPs in other parts of the north were this lunchtime being briefed on what to expect in their areas. | However, this has yet to be confirmed and much has already changed in the past 72 hours. MPs in other parts of the north were this lunchtime being briefed on what to expect in their areas. |
| The Welsh government looks likely to introduce regulations to stop people travelling from Covid hotspots in England travelling to Wales. | The Welsh government looks likely to introduce regulations to stop people travelling from Covid hotspots in England travelling to Wales. |
| Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said legal advice on how to effectively shut the border to some people had been taken. | Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said legal advice on how to effectively shut the border to some people had been taken. |
| He said he was “deeply disappointed” that Boris Johnson had not stopped people from travelling out of English hotspot areas. | He said he was “deeply disappointed” that Boris Johnson had not stopped people from travelling out of English hotspot areas. |
| Speaking at a press conference in Cardiff, Gething said he would meet with the first minister, Mark Drakeford, to discuss the next move later today. | Speaking at a press conference in Cardiff, Gething said he would meet with the first minister, Mark Drakeford, to discuss the next move later today. |
| He said there had been examples when Covid had been brought into Wales from England. | He said there had been examples when Covid had been brought into Wales from England. |
| Gething said that Covid was “waking up for the winter” and infections could reach the same level as the spring peak in the next couple of weeks. He said the R number was 1.37 in Wales and 330 people were in hospital with Covid-19 – up by 100 from last week. | Gething said that Covid was “waking up for the winter” and infections could reach the same level as the spring peak in the next couple of weeks. He said the R number was 1.37 in Wales and 330 people were in hospital with Covid-19 – up by 100 from last week. |
| Gething said more measures were being considered to combat the virus including the same sort of tiered system that is being introduced in England. He said a national lockdown or the sort of “firebreak” that had been launched in Scotland were also being considered. Gething said this was a “particularly important week”. | Gething said more measures were being considered to combat the virus including the same sort of tiered system that is being introduced in England. He said a national lockdown or the sort of “firebreak” that had been launched in Scotland were also being considered. Gething said this was a “particularly important week”. |
| In a statement the Welsh government said: | In a statement the Welsh government said: |
| Gavin Williamson, the education secretary for England, is going to delay GCSEs and A levels for three weeks next summer to allow more time for catch-up teaching, Newsnight’s Lewis Goodall reports. | Gavin Williamson, the education secretary for England, is going to delay GCSEs and A levels for three weeks next summer to allow more time for catch-up teaching, Newsnight’s Lewis Goodall reports. |
| In Scotland National 5 exams, the equivalent of GCSEs, have already been cancelled for next summer. Highers and advanced highers are going ahead, but slightly later than usual. | In Scotland National 5 exams, the equivalent of GCSEs, have already been cancelled for next summer. Highers and advanced highers are going ahead, but slightly later than usual. |
| Nicola Sturgeon said the majority of new cases were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, where the health board confirmed that a ward at Scotland’s flagship super-hospital, the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow, has been closed to new admissions following “a number of positive cases”. | Nicola Sturgeon said the majority of new cases were in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, where the health board confirmed that a ward at Scotland’s flagship super-hospital, the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow, has been closed to new admissions following “a number of positive cases”. |
| Following the first weekend of the temporary national shutdown of indoor drinking, Sturgeon said that early anecdotal evidence from the police was that compliance has been good. | Following the first weekend of the temporary national shutdown of indoor drinking, Sturgeon said that early anecdotal evidence from the police was that compliance has been good. |
| Sturgeon said that she had come from a Cobra meeting with the prime minister and leaders of other devolved governments. The main topic was the three-tier system of alerts being brought in for England. She said that the Scottish government intends “to develop our own tiering framework and take that to parliament after the October recess”. This will coincide with the ending of the temporary hospitality restrictions, and she said that she would be “aiming for alignment” with the four nations. | Sturgeon said that she had come from a Cobra meeting with the prime minister and leaders of other devolved governments. The main topic was the three-tier system of alerts being brought in for England. She said that the Scottish government intends “to develop our own tiering framework and take that to parliament after the October recess”. This will coincide with the ending of the temporary hospitality restrictions, and she said that she would be “aiming for alignment” with the four nations. |
| It is worth noting that Sturgeon refers to the current restrictions – which are particularly tough in the central belt – as “reset restrictions”. There was consternation on Sunday after cabinet secretary for tourism, Fergus Ewing, warned that there was no guarantee that pubs and restaurants in central Scotland would reopen after the 16-day shutdown. | It is worth noting that Sturgeon refers to the current restrictions – which are particularly tough in the central belt – as “reset restrictions”. There was consternation on Sunday after cabinet secretary for tourism, Fergus Ewing, warned that there was no guarantee that pubs and restaurants in central Scotland would reopen after the 16-day shutdown. |
| At the start of her briefing Nicola Sturgeon also announced the latest coronavirus figures for Scotland. | At the start of her briefing Nicola Sturgeon also announced the latest coronavirus figures for Scotland. |
| She said 961 people had tested positive. That was 17.1% of people getting a test. | She said 961 people had tested positive. That was 17.1% of people getting a test. |
| Yesterday the equivalent figures were 956 and 14.9%. For much of last week the daily number of people testing positive was over 1,000. | Yesterday the equivalent figures were 956 and 14.9%. For much of last week the daily number of people testing positive was over 1,000. |
| Sturgeon said that 487 patients were in hospital with coronavirus in Scotland, up 38 on yesterday, and 36 people were in intensive care, up one from yesterday. | Sturgeon said that 487 patients were in hospital with coronavirus in Scotland, up 38 on yesterday, and 36 people were in intensive care, up one from yesterday. |
| These hospital figures are the highest so far in Scotland this autumn. | These hospital figures are the highest so far in Scotland this autumn. |
| And Sturgeon also said six further deaths had been registered since Friday, taking the total to 2,550. | And Sturgeon also said six further deaths had been registered since Friday, taking the total to 2,550. |
| A hundred of Scotland’s top hoteliers have written to the Scottish government warning that thousands of jobs will be lost without a change in the new rules which came into force last Friday evening for two weeks. | A hundred of Scotland’s top hoteliers have written to the Scottish government warning that thousands of jobs will be lost without a change in the new rules which came into force last Friday evening for two weeks. |
| In a letter printed in the Scotsman, the signatories call on hotels to be allowed to serve alcohol to guests, following the nationwide crackdown on indoor drinking announced by first minister Nicola Sturgeon last week. | In a letter printed in the Scotsman, the signatories call on hotels to be allowed to serve alcohol to guests, following the nationwide crackdown on indoor drinking announced by first minister Nicola Sturgeon last week. |
| There was also anger from the hospitality sector on Sunday after the cabinet secretary for tourism, Fergus Ewing, warned that there was no guarantee that pubs and restaurants in central Scotland would reopen after the 16-day shutdown. | There was also anger from the hospitality sector on Sunday after the cabinet secretary for tourism, Fergus Ewing, warned that there was no guarantee that pubs and restaurants in central Scotland would reopen after the 16-day shutdown. |
| Businesses have already complained about confusion around the original restrictions and what sorts of premises they applied to after a last-minute exemption for cafes led to uncertainty about the difference between a cafe and a restaurant. | Businesses have already complained about confusion around the original restrictions and what sorts of premises they applied to after a last-minute exemption for cafes led to uncertainty about the difference between a cafe and a restaurant. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, is giving her daily briefing now. | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, is giving her daily briefing now. |
| She says she has been participating in a UK government Cobra meeting this morning. She says she was given details of the three-tier system being introduced for England. | She says she has been participating in a UK government Cobra meeting this morning. She says she was given details of the three-tier system being introduced for England. |
| The Scottish government will take the plans away and look at them, she says. | The Scottish government will take the plans away and look at them, she says. |
| She says Scotland will introduce its own tiering system for when the current 16-day restrictions on pubs and restaurants end. | She says Scotland will introduce its own tiering system for when the current 16-day restrictions on pubs and restaurants end. |
| She says at a strategic level it will make sense to align the Scottish system “as closely as possible” with what is happening in the rest of the UK. | She says at a strategic level it will make sense to align the Scottish system “as closely as possible” with what is happening in the rest of the UK. |
| But she says Scotland will be able to decide for itself what rules apply where. | But she says Scotland will be able to decide for itself what rules apply where. |