Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry and Slough to enter Tier 2 restrictions

22 October 2020, 15:05 | Updated: 22 October 2020, 20:38

Three new regions have been added to Tier 2
Three new regions have been added to Tier 2. Picture: PA Images
Ewan Quayle

By Ewan Quayle

Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry and Slough are to move to Tier 2 restrictions after a significant rise in coronavirus cases in recent weeks.

The three areas will go into new restrictions at midnight on Saturday.

"The fight is not over and the virus continues to spread," Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs.

In a statement to the House of Commons, he highlighted a dramatic increase in the number of hospitalisations and deaths in the past week.

Read more: Rishi Sunak unveils billions of pounds of support for businesses in Tier 2 areas

Read more: Burnham raises questions over timing of Chancellor's Tier 2 support package

"This is a much more regional second wave," he added. "Which puts more pressure on areas like Liverpool and Lancashire."

The Health Secretary also confirmed that talks had begun with local leaders in Warrington and Nottingham over entering Tier 3 restrictions.

The North West Nightingale Hospital in Manchester will reopen today as hospitals become overwhelmed with virus patients.

Hospitals in Liverpool confirmed on Wednesday they were treating more Covid-19 patients than at the busiest period during the first wave.

On Thursday evening, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust's chief executive Tracy Taylor said the city's Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) has exceeded 200 patients with Covid-19 over the past few days - with numbers "increasing by nearly another full ward of people" every day.

Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry and Slough to move to Tier 2 restrictions

Meanwhile in Greater Manchester, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins has said extra teams of officers will be out in towns and cities across the region to ensure compliance with Tier 3 restrictions which come into force tonight.

"We have got some that have just completely flouted the rules," he warned.

"There's one individual who is now up to £3,100 worth of fine and there's one house that has had eight fixed penalty notices issued to it."

Read more: Johnson challenged at PMQs over Tier 3 escape route and resists calls for circuit break

Read more: Ex-police chief: Covid Tier system is 'extraordinarily complicated'

Challenged by MPs over how he planned to balance tackling the virus with civil liberties and mental health problems, Mr Hancock explained how countries were "wrestling" with the issue.

"Like other liberal democracies around the world, we're wrestling with this question of how we keep people safe from the virus whilst at the same time protecting all the important things in life," he said.

"That is what leads us to this strategy of suppressing the virus, supporting the economy, education and the NHS needs to do all the other things that it needs to until the vaccine is available."

Hospitality firms in Tier 2 to get grants of up to £2100 per month

Responding to the statement, Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth admitted that it was too late to hold a national two-week 'circuit break' lockdown over October half-term.

The shadow health secretary said: "Now, I accept we've probably missed the window of opportunity now with... unless the Secretary of State or the minister of state is going to get up at the end of this debate and say actually, we're going to do a circuit-breaker over half-term next week - I accept the Government have probably missed that window of opportunity now.

"But at some point, they will have to take further action."

Read more: Volunteer in Oxford vaccine trial placebo control group dies from covid in Brazil

On Test and Trace, Mr Ashworth added that "the statistics have been bad every week".

A record low of 59.6% of contacts were traced by callers this week - 20% below what experts say is needed for the system to have any major impact on infections.

It follows an announcement by Rishi Sunak earlier on Thursday that businesses currently or formerly in Tier 2 restrictions will be eligible for up to £2,100 per month in support.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Anthony Scaramucci said the row between Trump and Labour would blow over

'Anglophile' Trump's row with Starmer will have 'no impact' on wider relations with UK, Anthony Scaramucci says

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Exclusive
Nick Ferrari bumps into Nigel Farage in Pennsylvania as he reflects on Trump's "remarkable" foreign policy achievements

Nick Ferrari bumps into Nigel Farage in Pennsylvania as he reflects on Trump's 'near-death' experience

Live
US Presidential Election 2024 LIVE: Millions of Americans head to the polls as election day arrives

US Presidential Election 2024 LIVE: Millions of Americans head to the polls in the final race for the White House

Proud Boys claim they will go to voting places as Trump repeats election fraud lies.

Proud Boys making plans to mobilise as Trump repeats election fraud lies

File photo of a real NHS dentist

Desperate Brits fall for scam 'fake NHS dentists' amid years-long waits for appointments

The Kremlin is suspected of plotting the attack

'Parcel bombs' that blew up in warehouse were 'rehearsal' for Russian explosion attack on flight to US

Keir Starmer is not set to ban smoking in pub gardens, contrary to earlier reports

Cigarettes will not be banned in pub gardens under new Labour plan create 'smoke-free generation'

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Reading, Pennsylvania

Trump threatens Mexico with 100% tariffs unless it cracks down on border crossings

Bridget Phillipson told Tonight with Andrew Marr that the fee hike was necessary to secure the future of universities.

‘Universities must reform’ says education secretary after first hike in tuition fees in 8 years

Two more cases of a new strain of mpox have been detected in the UK, officials say

Two more cases of new mpox strain detected in UK

Anya Taylor-Joy and her musician husband were the victims of a terrifying robbery

Anya Taylor-Joy and musician husband victims of burglary at London mansion

Exclusive
Nigel Farage speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari about new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch

'The Remainers are back in town': Nigel Farage says Kemi Badenoch will bring 'no change whatsoever' to Tories

Amy Dowden

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden will not return to show this year following 'medical emergency'

Scott Paterson murdered his landlady Annette Smith

Tenant murdered and dismembered elderly landlady before posing as her by sending Christmas cards to family

Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel and Mel Stride will all serve in Kemi Badenoch's Shadow Cabinet

Kemi Badenoch names former leadership rivals Robert Jenrick and Priti Patel to Tory Shadow Cabinet team