Britons confused by lockdown rules can find out what Covid-19 restrictions and infection rates are in their area thanks to two new interactive tools – as questions swirl about where could be next hit with tougher curbs.
The tools were released on the Gov.uk website after Boris Johnson announced his new three-tier system last night. Users enter their postcodes and are then told whether the alert level in their area is ‘medium, ‘high’, or ‘very high’.
People then click a link to get more information on what restrictions come with each level. A second interactive map allows Brits to find out the exact Covid-19 case rate where they live.
The move is an attempt by the Government to make local lockdown rules clearer to residents living in hotspot areas. Ministers have been repeatedly criticised for their communication strategy throughout the crisis, which has seen inconsistent restrictions and last-minute rule changes.
So far only parts of Merseyside have been thrust into the harshest lockdown category, which means pubs and gyms need to close and residents aren’t allowed to leave their towns or cities unless they have good reason.
Swathes of the North of England, Yorkshire and the Midlands have been placed in the second tier, with a ban on indoor mixing of households. But the majority of the country remains within the lowest category, with the standard ‘rule of six’ and 10pm curfew in place.
However, MPs and council leaders in Essex – which is currently a tier one county – have requested to be bumped up to the second class after being shown Covid-19 data which warned of an exponential rise in cases for the weeks ahead.
The number of infections in Essex has risen from just over 700 in the week ending October 2 to more than 1,000 the following seven days. Some places have seen infections treble in a week. The Tendring district in Essex – which includes Clacton, Harwich and Manningtree – saw cases rise from 26 cases per 100,000 to 81 per 100,000 in that week.
Essex Council formally asked the government to raise the county’s status in the three-tier alert system today, which would entail tighter social restrictions on its 1.4million residents. David Finch, leader at the Conservative-controlled council, told the BBC: ‘By acting now, we can hope to stem this increase, limiting the time that we are in these enhanced restrictions and – above all – avoiding further escalation into Very High.’
London Mayor Sadiq Khan today warned it is ‘inevitable’ that London will be plunged into a tier two lockdown this week. The UK capital is currently ranked as a ‘medium’ risk zone in the Government’s three-tier system.
But he warned today that London will ‘inevitably’ be moved upwards ‘this week’, because ‘hospital admissions, ICU occupancy, the numbers of older people with cases, the prevalence of the disease, the positivity are all going the wrong direction’.
Lancashire is also said to be at risk of being bumped up to tier three ‘within days’ because 14 towns and cities within the county in the North West are recording more than 100 infections per 100,000 population.
Burnley is recording about 404 cases per 100,000, while Preston’s case rate is 307, according to Public Health England data up to October 4. Rounding out the top five, Pendle is reporting 300 cases per 100,000, Hyndburn 283 and West Lancashire 281. For comparison, the case rate in Merseyside is 685 per 100,000.
Blackburn Labour MP Kate Hollern told the Lancashire Telegraph today that the county’s huge case rate means it is ‘in tier two today but we could be in tier three tomorrow’. Rossendale and Darwen Conservative MP Jake Berry said: ‘It is good news that East Lancashire is in tier two but we were on the cusp of going into tier three. If people do not observe the rules of tier two then we will be going into the higher level. We are very close to the edge.’
And councillors in Leeds are having discussions with the Government about bumping the city up to the harshest lockdown category to get a grip on the virus there. The city’s current rate is 422 cases per 100,000 people, having soared from 55 per 100,000 this time last month.
Click here to find out what the rules are in your area
Click here to find out the Covid-19 case rate in your area
An interactive tool released by the Government shows Britons what Covid-19 restrictions are in their area
A separate map allows users to check the coronavirus case rate per 100,000 in their local authority
Almost all of England, except for some parts of the Midlands and the North that already had tougher local rules, will keep the same social distancing rules that are in place nationally now. Liverpool (in red) will be the only area that faces the highest level of restrictions
It comes as Britain today recorded more than 100 coronavirus deaths for the first time in four months as officials announced 143 more victims.
Department of Health statistics show the grim milestone hadn’t been hit since June 17, when 110 lab-confirmed fatalities were added to the tally. For comparison, 76 deaths were registered last Tuesday as well as 50 yesterday — but counts on Mondays can be affected by a recording lag at weekends.
Separate data today revealed the number of deaths from Covid-19 in England and Wales has risen for the fourth week in a row, with the disease mentioned on 321 death certificates in the week to October 2. But the same data, from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), shows only one person under the age of 30 has died since August.
Health chiefs today also posted another 17,234 cases, up 18.5 per cent on the figure recorded last Tuesday (14,542). Only 13,972 more positive tests were added to the tally yesterday.
It comes as a senior minister today admitted national rules will ‘probably’ have to get tougher after it was revealed Boris Johnson is at war with SAGE over demands for a ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown for the whole of the UK as the October school half-term approaches.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick conceded the government is poised to ‘go further’ after the PM unveiled his new ‘Three Tier’ system of local restrictions last night — but only put Merseyside in the harshest category that will see pubs and bars shut.
Mr Jenrick pointed to high rates of infection in areas such as Greater Manchester and Nottingham, appealing for local leaders to agree terms to move up from Tier Two. But he dismissed claims that the government was not being ‘robust’ enough, after bombshell documents slipped out late last night showed its own scientific advisers wanted much more dramatic action.
The extraordinary spat emerged as Mr Johnson gathered his Cabinet for talks on the crisis, with infections threatening to spiral out of control again. Mr Johnson defiantly insisted at a No10 press conference last night that he had no intention of imposing a UK-wide squeeze that would ‘shatter’ the economy.
But within hours the minutes of a SAGE meeting from September 21 were released, showing that is exactly what the key group was suggesting. The timing of the dump by the government — which was out of line with the usual Friday publication schedule — sparked speculation that ministers were trying to bury the news.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has hit out at England’s strategy saying ‘half-measures’ won’t work and that the circuit breaker lockdown she has imposed in Scotland is based on scientific evidence, as questions are swirling about whether there is any proof to back up rules in place in England – particularly the 10pm pub curfew.
There is also in-fighting among Tories who are divided over saving the economy and giving people personal responsibility or slamming the brakes on Covid-19 to prevent further devastation. Health secretary Matt Hancock has been conspicuous by his absence in recent days leading to speculation he is unhappy with light-touch rules.
In other developments to Britain’s Covid-19 outbreak today:
- Boris Johnson faced a growing Tory backlash against his three-tier coronavirus approach as he was accused of ignoring local government on the imposition of the new system and firing off ‘a constant blizzard of arbitrary rules’;
- Nicola Sturgeon trolled the Prime Minister over his extraordinary spat with SAGE, boasting that her ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown is ‘rooted in scientific advice’;
- London Mayor Sadiq Khan today warned it is ‘inevitable’ that London will be plunged into a Tier Two lockdown this week as he admits he wants every borough to face the same coronavirus restrictions;
- The number of UK redundancies has risen at its fastest rate since the 2008 financial crisis, as unemployment surges to 1.5million amid fears millions more will be on the dole queue by Christmas;
- Doctors will finally trial whether vitamin D can actually protect people from Covid-19 amid mounting evidence the 3p-a-day supplement could be a life-saver.
‘The trend in Covid-related deaths is starting to rise quickly which is hugely concerning,’ Dr Yvonne Doyle, Public Health England’s medical director said today.
‘We have seen cases increasing especially in older age groups which is leading to more hospital admissions. This is a stark reminder for us to follow the guidelines. Importantly, do not mix with others when unwell.
‘We must all do our part to help control the virus by following the restrictions in our areas, maintaining social distance, wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and washing our hands regularly.’
The rising death toll comes amid warnings from the country’s chief scientists that the numbers of people being admitted to hospital and dying will continue to increase for weeks from now.
As cases continue to surge, which they have been doing for weeks, the linked number of admissions and fatalities will rise accordingly.
Deaths now will largely be coming from people who caught the virus three or four weeks ago, when there were an average of around 3,000 cases per day (September 13), compared to the current 14-15,000 per day.
WHAT ARE THE NEW RESTRICTIONS?
TIER ONE – MEDIUM
Tier one restrictions are believed to mirror those already in place across England.
These include the rule of six, a 10pm curfew, group sport to be played outdoors only and a maximum of 15 guests at wedding ceremonies.
TIER TWO – HIGH
Tier two restrictions are expected to be similar to rules currently in place in parts of the north east and north west, where indoor mixing of households is prohibited.
Two households may be allowed to meet in a private garden and public outdoor spaces, as long as the rule of six and social distancing are followed.
TIER THREE – VERY HIGH
Restaurants can open, but only until 10pm.
Pubs and bars will be ordered to close unless they also operate as a restaurant.
This definition will extend to pubs which sell ‘substantial’ meals, which like restaurants will be allowed to stay open but only serve alcohol to people eating a meal.
Locals will be advised only to leave their areas for essential travel such as work, education or health, and must return before the end of the day.
Overnight stays by those from outside of these ‘high risk’ areas will also be banned.
Households will not be allowed to to mix either indoors or outdoors.
Downing Street also revealed today that parts of the top Very High Risk will be ‘bespoke’.
Alongside the blanket closure of pubs, restrictions on household mixing and guidance not to travel outside the local area, the Government will liaise with local politicians and health experts to tailor the lockdown.
This means two adjacent districts could have different lockdowns, with one having gyms open and the other seeing them closed. This could also affect institutions like bingo halls, bookies, casinos, beauty salons and hairdressers.
Mr Johnson told the Commons: ‘The very high alert level will apply where transmission rates are rising most rapidly and where the NHS could soon be under unbearable pressure without further restrictions. In these areas, the Government will set a base line of prohibiting social mixing indoors and in private gardens and I am sorry to say closing pubs and bars.
‘We want to create the maximum possible local consensus behind this more severe local action, so in each area we will work with local government leaders on the additional measures which should be taken. This could lead to further restrictions on the hospitality, leisure, entertainment or personal care sectors, but retail, schools and universities will remain open.’
If a business is closed due to third tier restrictions, the Government will pay two thirds of each employee’s salary, up to a maximum of £2,100 a month under plans set out by Rishi Sunak last Thursday.
WHO IS GOING INTO TIER THREE LOCKDOWN?
Liverpool is in Tier Three, subject to the most draconian restrictions.
However, Manchester has been kept in Tier Two after frantic lobbying from mayor Andy Burnham and local MPs, meaning households can still socialise outdoors and bars can stay open.
London is on the brink of Tier Two, which means stronger limits on households socialising.
Boris Johnson said: ‘Most areas which are already subject to local restrictions will automatically move into the high alert level. As a result of rising infection rates, Nottinghamshire, East and West Cheshire and a small area of High Peak will also move into the high alert level.’
Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon confirmed that MPs in the Greater Manchester region had been told their area will be placed under Tier 2 restrictions.
The Labour MP tweeted: ‘Call with the Secretary of State (Matt Hancock) confirms Greater Manchester will be placed in Tier 2 with household restrictions on meeting indoors in any setting, but not outdoors.
‘Pubs serving food remain open.
‘Oldham will be removed from its enhanced lockdown measures and brought into line with Greater Manchester at last.’
The leader of Newcastle City Council said it was unlikely any further restrictions will be applied to the north-east of England ‘for now’.
Nick Forbes said on Twitter: ‘I’m pleased that, for now, it’s unlikely any further restrictions will apply in the North East.
‘We need a period of stability and consistent rules, so everyone is clear what we all need to do.’
Mr Forbes also called for urgent clarification on an economic support package for businesses affected by the current restrictions.
The decision will be based on the rate of infection.
But Professor Van-Tam said the rise in coronavirus cases was now being seen ‘nationwide’ and was not solely a problem for northern England.
Addressing a slide shown earlier in the briefing about rates increasing in the South of England, he said: ‘You have worried me now that I might have presented a bi-polar picture that Covid-19 is a problem in the North and not a problem in the South.
‘On the contrary, the epidemic this time has clearly picked up pace in the North of England earlier than it did in the first wave and that almost certainly relates to the fact the disease levels in the North, and certainly in the North West, never dropped as far in the summer as they did in the South.
‘But pretty much all areas of the UK are now seeing growths in the infection rate and that extending brown map that I showed you, which is sourced from the Joint Biosecurity Centre, absolutely makes that point.
‘This is a nationwide phenomenon now that rates are changing upwards across the UK.’
Nottingham leads in England, with 2,763 new cases recorded in the seven days to October 8 – the equivalent of 830.0 cases per 100,000 people.
This is a huge jump from 314.5 per 100,000 in the seven days to October 1.
Nottingham City Council expects a local lockdown to be imposed on Monday, with councils in the area asking residents to not mix with people outside of their households or bubbles.
Knowsley has the second highest rate, which has climbed from 485.9 to 669.5, with 1,010 new cases.
Neighbouring Liverpool is in third place, where the rate has increased from 504.4 to 598.5, with 2,981 new cases.
Other areas recording big jumps in their seven-day rates which may lead to restrictions include West Lancashire (up from 217.8 to 398.1, with 455 new cases); Exeter (up from 229.8 to 380.5, with 500 new cases); Blackburn with Darwen (up from 208.4 to 355.4, with 532 new cases); and Broxtowe (up from 115.8 to 265.7, with 303 new cases).
WHY IS THIS BEING DONE NOW?
The UK was fourth in the world in terms of its number of Covid-19 cases last week.
The steep rise in cases across the nation means that Britain was only behind India, the US and Brazil in terms of its recent case numbers according to Dr Margaret Harris from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
She told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme the UK reported 110,827 new cases to the last week, adding: ‘We are seeing very, very large outbreaks around the world – only last week India led the number of new cases, 504,000, followed by the US with 327,000 and then Brazil.
Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam laid out the government’s latest assessment of the COVID situation with charts at a briefing today
‘But the United Kingdom is number four and what we are seeing is that, in Europe particularly, in more and more countries we’re seeing a bigger change in the number of cases.’
Mr Johnson told MPs the R value was already being suppressed to ‘well below’ its natural level, but said measures needed to go further as he outlined a simplification of the rules.
The Prime Minister told the Commons: ‘Left unchecked, each person with the virus will infect an average of between 2.7 and 3 others, but Sage assesses that the current R nationally is between 1.2 and 1.5.
‘So we are already suppressing that R to well below its natural level, which is why the virus is not spreading as quickly as it did in March. But we need to go further.
‘In recent months we have worked with local leaders to counter local spikes with targeted restrictions, but this local approach has inevitably produced different sets of rules in different parts of the country that are now complex to understand and to enforce.’
Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam and NHS medical director Stephen Powis told a briefing in Downing Street this morning that the number of patients in hospital was now higher than before the blanket lockdown was imposed in March – and could be above the previous peak within four weeks.
Professor Van-Tam also delivered a stark message that the surge in cases was spreading from younger people to the more vulnerable old generation.
And Prof Powys said the hope that the elderly could be isolated from the increase in infections was proving to be ‘wishful thinking’.
WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN?
Many of the local political leaders in the areas likely to face the harshest restrictions have warned about the extent of the lockdown and financial support available.
They fear that Rishi Sunak’s Job Support Scheme (JSS) upgrade announced last week to cover 67 per cent of wages will not be enough and want something closer to the 80 per cent paid out by the soon-to-end furlough programme.
The hospitality sector will be hardest hit by new lockdown measures in the Liverpool City Region, metro mayor Steve Rotheram said.
He told BBC News that a lot of people in the sector were ‘low paid’ and needed further support to keep their jobs.
Speaking about the support package being offered by the Government, Mr Rotheram said: ‘I’m afraid 67 per cent of their (hospitality worker’s) wages doesn’t cut it. They can’t pay two-thirds of their gas or electricity, or when they go to a shop, they can’t say ‘can you cut that by a third’.
‘We need the Government to work with us so we can provide a package of support that, one, secures the likelihood that our businesses can come out of this at the other end.
‘Two, it ensures that people stay in jobs, and three, that our overall economy is not severely impacted post-pandemic by the measures taken by Government today.’
Sir Keir Starmer said he is ‘sceptical’ whether the Government has a plan to get control of the virus.
The Labour leader said: ‘Nobody should be under any illusion about where this is heading, or of the need for decisive action.
Sir Keir Starmer said areas with high coronavirus rates had been treated with ‘contempt’ by Boris Johnson’s Government.
‘The question today is whether the restrictions announced by the Prime Minister can bring the country back from the brink, whether they can regain control of the virus and provide the support and confidence that local businesses and communities need. That is how high the stakes now are.
‘So we will consider the package, we will look at the small print of the Prime Minister’s statement, we will discuss them with local mayors, councillors and leaders in the areas most affected and we’ll scrutinise the economic package that sits alongside them.
‘But I have to say to the Prime Minister, I am now deeply sceptical that the Government has actually got a plan to get control of this virus, to protect jobs or retain public trust.’
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce chief executive Paul Cherpeau said businesses across the city are ‘bewildered, frustrated and angry’ at the new lockdown.
He said: ‘A week of speculation and rumour has badly damaged confidence. Businesses need to understand the clear evidence for the restrictions that are now being imposed – as many have worked so hard to become Covid safe.
‘Whilst our visitor economy will bear the brunt of these new restrictions, the percolating effect on supply chains is hugely concerning, in addition to the psychological impact upon our citizens, business owners and investors.
‘It is imperative that the commencement of these measures coincides with an adequately funded and swiftly distributed package of financial support alongside a clear exit strategy for when these new measures in our city region will be lifted.’
Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has described the UK Government’s proposals for travel restrictions in areas of England with high levels of coronavirus as ‘inadequate’.
Mr Drakeford attended the Cobra meeting on Monday, chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to discuss the proposed introduction of a tiered system of local restrictions in England, the Welsh Government said.
‘The First Minister expressed deep disappointment at the inadequate proposals for travel restrictions in high-infection areas in England, and said these would be met with great dismay in many parts of Wales where infection rates are lower,’ a spokeswoman said.
‘He also requested greater clarity on the metrics for placing areas into each tier, and agreed with other devolved leaders that the Treasury’s proposals for financial support, while welcome, did not go far enough in protecting the lowest paid workers.’
Meanwhile, the night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, Sacha Lord, has started legal proceedings to challenge the lockdown of hospitality and entertainment venues.
Mr Dowden made clear the Government would resist any legal action, insisting ministers were supported by chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
‘We know there are challenges around hospitality – for example, the obvious point you can’t wear a mask when you are sat down and eating, that frequently you are in contact with people that you don’t normally meet, and we know that the virus thrives on that kind of social interaction,’ he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
He said the Government had to act now amid clear evidence the disease was on the rise again.
Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has described the UK Government’s proposals for travel restrictions in areas of England with high levels of coronavirus as ‘inadequate’
WHAT ELSE IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING?
The temporary Nightingale hospitals in Manchester, Sunderland and Harrogate are being mobilised to help with the spike in Covid-19 cases ‘if necessary’.
NHS England’s Professor Stephen Powis told a Downing Street briefing there would also be increased testing of health staff in hotspot areas.
He said: ‘To protect our staff and our patients we will be introducing – with tests provided by the Test and Trace service – regular testing for staff in these high-risk areas, even when they don’t have symptoms.
‘This will help us keep staff and patients in those hospitals as safe as possible.
‘Secondly, we have asked the Nightingale hospitals in Manchester, Sunderland and Harrogate to prepare for this next phase.
‘They are being asked to mobilise over the next few weeks to be ready to accept patients if necessary.’
It will be for local clinicians to decide whether they are used for Covid patients or to provide extra capacity to maintain services for people without coronavirus.