Five areas in North and Midlands confirmed in Tier 3 lockdown

Two more areas - North and Midlands - will be under a tier 3 lockdown, since Covid cases are still in surge.

More areas in England will be added to Tier 3 lockdown. After Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire, Warrington will become the fourth area, following with parts of Nottinghamshire as the fifth. Whether those areas of Nottinghamshire will be changed or not, it depends on the meeting between local leaders and the Government.

Tier 3 talks are ongoing with West Yorkshire and were reopened with the North East, but the status is unclear.

Leaders in the North East said on Monday, October 26, that they would resist moves to Tier 3.

Warrington to enter Tier 3

The government eventually confirmed that Warrington will enter Tier 3. So, pub and bars will be forced to close unless they can switch it into restaurants. Moreover, they can only serve alcohol with “substantial” meals.

People in those areas would be banned from meeting those not belonging to their household or bubble, both indoor or in private outdoor spaces.

Travel in and out of the area will be advised against in the restrictions, which last 28 days before a review. Also, betting andgaming shops, casinos and soft play centers in Warrington must close.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said an agreement had been made to move Warrington to the highest alert level as infection rates had increased to among the highest in the country. Case rates are now at 361 people per 100,000 among all age groups, with infections among the over 60s rising by 20% in a week to 217 per 100,000 people.

Notthingam’s destiny to be decided

Further measures specific to these areas of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will be announced tomorrow, Wednesday, October 28. Council leaders in Nottinghamshire had been pushing for entering Tier 3. Sources said talks hit a road-block over the decision to involve just four of the county’s eight boroughs which are Nottingham, Gedling, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe.

Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood said case rates were falling in the city and rising elsewhere in the county. She revealed: “I’m a bit in the dark if I’m brutally honest. I don’t really understand why – it didn’t seem like there was much to discuss when I spoke to them on Friday. So I don’t know what’s changed.”

Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome said local officials had been “asked to sign last-minute agreements” to enter Tier 3, without knowing what funding they’ll get. She also added that “Nottingham City Council has already had to spend more than £30m from its own reserves to cover the cost of the pandemic. After years of cuts, council budgets are already badly overstretched and this can’t go on for any longer.”