Leeds and West Yorkshire will enter Tier 3 of Coronavirus lockdown from Monday, it’s been confirmed tonight.
In a statement, Cllr Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said:
“We will be moving into Tier 3 on one minute past midnight [on Monday, November 2].
“This is a very difficult decision for us to take and we recognise the significant of the economic impact that it will have, but the virus is at a stage in which we need to take measures.”
Council leaders from across West Yorkshire also issued a joint statement which said:
“Over recent days, we have had a number of meetings with government ministers to discuss the next steps for controlling the rising Covid-19 infection rates across the region.
“Today, with great reluctance, we have accepted that West Yorkshire will now move into Tier Three (Very High) restrictions as of 00.01am on Monday, November 2.”
The new restrictions mean people will not be allowed to mix indoors with anyone socially who isn’t part of their household or support “bubble”.
Casinos, soft play, adult gaming centres, betting shops and car boot sales will all be shut under the new restrictions.
As part of tier three, people cannot meet in private or pub gardens, but can meet in parks, beaches, countryside or forests, as long as they are not in a group of more than six.
Pubs and bars must close unless they are serving substantial meals. Alcohol can only be served as part of a meal.
People are also being advised not to travel into or out of tier three areas, other than for work, education, youth services or because of caring responsibilities.
Other guidance includes:
- Gyms can remain open but guidance is against indoor exercise classes taking place.
- Businesses must ensure that if their workers are required to self-isolate, they do not work outside their designated place of self-isolation.
- Businesses and venues must ensure people do not meet in their premises with people from outside of their household or support bubble.
- Businesses and venues that fail to comply with these restrictions may face fines of up to £10,000 prosecution, or in some cases closure.
- Where an employer, in consultation with their employee, judges that an employee can carry out their normal duties from home they should do so.
A multi-million pound support package had been negotiated with the government for West Yorkshire. There will also be an additional £12.7m for testing and tracing, he added.
The move to tier three comes as the head of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust says the number of Covid-19 patients in the city’s hospitals has increased to 268 – higher than in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Why are not the Nightingale Hospitals being used? They can free beds in other hospitals for non covid cases.