WARRINGTON will go into a Tier 3 lockdown from midnight tonight, the Government confirmed this afternoon – and Nottingham is still on the brink of joining too.
Around 200,000 people in the area will move to the Very High top level of restrictions, meaning pubs which don’t serve alcohol, adult gaming centres, betting shops, casinos and kids soft play areas will have to shut again.
The case rate in England stood at 180.6 people per 100,000 from 12 October to 18 October – up from 100 last week.
In Warrington case rates are at 361 people per 100,000 among all age groups – and there’s been a 20 per cent rise in cases in the over 60s in the last seven days.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said today: “Infection rates are rising in Warrington, and we have agreed with local leaders that it’s time to take action.
“We have agreed a support package designed to help businesses while boosting efforts to control the virus locally, and will not hesitate to take similar action in any area of the country if infection rates continue to rise.
“Please remember – now is the time for us all to work together to get this virus under control.”
People are already banned from meeting up with people indoors that they don’t live with under Tier 2.
But now they will be unable to socialise with anyone not part of their household in most outside settings too – such as outdoors at pubs or at ticketed events.
People should try to avoid travelling outside the area unless it’s for work, or it’s essential.
And residents should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK, and others should avoid staying overnight in the very high alert area.
Greater Manchester, Lancashire, South Yorkshire and Liverpool are all in Tier 3 too – meaning the toughest rules apply to them to try and stop the spread of the virus.
The government will be providing a financial support package of £1.68m to Warrington, as well as £4.2m in business support funding.
