Covid, Manchester refused three-tier lockdown

After being put on a ‘Very High’ risk alert, the city of Manchester had to be put under a three-tier lockdown but reportedly refused to go.

Greater Manchester has been deeply impacted by this second wave of coronavirus, and for this reason, it was already on a second-tier lockdown. The city is now refusing to go under a three-tier lockdown.

Manchester refused three-tier lockdown

The North has been hit hard by the second surge in coronavirus cases and Manchester is among the cities at greater risk. After being put on a ‘Very High’ risk alert, the city of Manchester had to be put under a three-tier lockdown but reportedly refused to go.

The reason behind this choice would be funding, the Treasury in fact requested more money to the UK government in a tense meeting in the morning.

An announcement from Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham was expected this morning at 11 am but it was reportedly postponed because no decision was made yet. Important talks are now expected between the UK government and the city of Manchester, that remains under a second-tier lockdown.

What is a three-tier lockdown?

At the beginning of the month, the UK government had warned a three-tier lockdown would have to be put in places if covid cases continued to rise in the country, and that is what is slowly starting to happen. A three-tier lockdown means pubs and restaurants would be closed and social contact outside household bubbles would be banned. These are the basic rules of a lockdown system as stated in the ‘Covid-19 Proposed Social Distancing Framework’ plan, which includes three levels:

• Level 3 – No social contact with anyone outside your household in any setting; hospitality and leisure businesses closed; amateur sports and hobbies banned.
• Level 2 – No social contact in private homes or gardens outside your bubbles; avoid visiting care homes; only make essential journeys.
• Level 1 – ‘Rule of six‘ for gatherings; wear face masks in shops and pubs and on transport; 10pm curfew on hospitality; 15 people at weddings, 30 at funerals.

However, the restrictions will probably continue to be altered.