As you will be aware the government has announced its intention to introduce a three-tiered system of local alert levels in an attempt to standardise local rules on Covid-19 control measures.
For information I've published below two statements; one on behalf of the government and one on behalf of the leaders of the seven local authorities in the North-East.
Links to details of advice and support available in County Durham can be found at the bottom of this page:
Prime Minister announces new local Covid
Alert Levels
The Prime
Minister has today set out how the government will further simplify and
standardise local rules by introducing a three tiered system of local Covid
Alert Levels in England.
Addressing MPs
before hosting a Downing Street press conference, he confirmed the levels will
be set at medium, high, and very high.
He set out how
this new approach will be simpler and standardised, and thanked local leaders
who have engaged with the government over the weekend.
The “medium”
alert level - which will cover most of the country - will consist of the
current national measures, which came into force on 25 September.
This includes
the Rule of Six, and the closure of hospitality at 10pm.
The “high”
alert level will reflect many current local interventions, but there will now
be consistency across the country.
This primarily
aims to reduce household to household transmission by preventing all mixing
between households or support bubbles indoors. The Rule of Six will apply in
outdoor spaces, including private gardens.
Most areas
which are already subject to local restrictions will automatically move into
the “high” alert level.
The “very high”
alert level will apply where transmission rates are causing the greatest
concern, based on an assessment of all the available data and the local
situation.
This includes
incidence and test positivity, including amongst older and more at-risk age
groups, as well as the growth rate, hospital admissions and other
factors.
In these areas,
the government will set a baseline of prohibiting social mixing indoors and in
private gardens, with the Rule of Six allowed in open public spaces like parks
and beaches.
Pubs and bars
must close, and can only remain open where they operate as if they were a
restaurant - which means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or
evening meal. They may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal.
People will be
advised not to travel in and out of these areas.
To create local
consensus behind this more severe action, the government will work with local
leaders on how individual areas should go beyond this baseline, which may
include measures such as the closure of gyms, casinos, and leisure centres.
Non-essential
retail, schools and universities will remain open in all levels.
Cases are
rising rapidly across the country, particularly in the North East and North
West, and this is resulting in increased hospitalisations and deaths.
The Prime
Minster said that further action is required now to suppress the virus and make
sure the NHS isn’t overwhelmed, and can continue providing essential services
such as cancer care.
This follows
significant local engagement throughout the weekend.
On Sunday, the
Prime Minister spoke to Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City
Region, following detailed discussions over the last few days between all the
region’s leaders, Chief Executives and senior government figures.
They discussed
the huge challenge from rising numbers of Covid cases in the region and pledged
to work together on combatting the virus.
Senior No 10
advisers and the Housing Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick
also held discussions with local authority leaders and mayors from the highest
areas of concern.
As the Prime
Minister said, in recent months, local outbreaks have been tackled with
targeted restrictions - helping save lives and avoiding the need to apply those
measures nationally.
However, over
time this has led to different rules in different parts of the country, with
some rules becoming increasingly complex and difficult to enforce.
A postcode
checker on gov.uk will show which alert level applies in each area and
the NHS Covid-19 app will also direct people to this information.
Regulations for
all three local alert levels will be laid today and they will be debated and voted
on in the House of Commons tomorrow. Subject to that vote tomorrow, they will
come into force on Wednesday, subject to the approval of Parliament.
These measures
will be kept under constant review, including a four-week sunset clause for
interventions in “very high” areas.
The PM also
confirmed that the government will also provide Local Authorities across
England with around £1 billion of new financial support.
He also said
that engagement with other leaders in the North West, the North East and
Yorkshire & Humber is continuing.
He also called
on local leaders in the areas rated very high to work with the government on
these measures, in return for more support for local test and trace, more
funding for local enforcement, the offer of help from the armed services, and
the job support scheme as announced by the Chancellor.
Full details on
what the Covid Alert Levels contain are set out below.
Local COVID
Alert Level - Medium
This is for
areas where national restrictions continue to be in place. This means:
- All
businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-Secure manner,
other than those that remain closed in law, such as nightclubs.
- Certain
businesses selling food or drink on their premises are required to close
between 10pm and 5am. Businesses and venues selling food for consumption
off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is
through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-thru.
- Schools,
universities and places of worship remain open
- Weddings
and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees
- Organised
indoor sport and exercise classes can continue to take place, provided the
Rule of Six is followed
- People
must not meet in groups larger than 6, indoors or outdoors
Local COVID
Alert Level - High
This is for
areas with a higher level of infections. This means the following
additional measures are in place:
·
People
must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any
indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place
- People must
not meet in a group of more than 6 outside, including in a garden or other
space.
- People
should aim to reduce the number of journeys they make where possible. If
they need to travel, they should walk or cycle where possible, or to plan
ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport.
Local COVID
Alert Level - Very High
This is for
areas with a very high level of infections. The Government will set a baseline
of measures for any area in this local alert level. Consultation with local
authorities will determine additional measures.
The baseline
means the below additional measures are in place:
- Pubs and bars must close, and can only remain open where they
operate as if they were a restaurant - which means serving substantial
meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They may only serve alcohol
as part of such a meal.
- Wedding receptions are not allowed
- People must
not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any
indoor or outdoor setting, whether at home or in a public space. The Rule
of Six applies in open public spaces like parks and beaches.
- People
should try to avoid travelling outside the ‘Very High’ area they are in,
or entering a ‘Very High’ area, other than for things like work,
education, accessing youth services, to meet caring responsibilities or if
they are in transit.
- People
should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if they are
resident in a ‘Very High’ area, or avoid staying overnight in a ‘Very
High’ area if they are resident elsewhere.
Statement
on behalf of LA7 leaders and North of Tyne mayor
“We
were clear in our discussions with government that stricter measures for our
region would not be welcome and we are pleased this has been recognised in the
Prime Minister’s announcement today.
“The
data shows early promising signs in infection rates across the North East and
it was imperative that the existing measures were given the necessary time to
have the desired effect.
“The
figures show a levelling off and slight decrease in infections for our region,
and we want our communities to be given the chance to make the current
arrangements work before further disruptive changes are introduced.
“While
the Chancellor’s recent announcement of financial support for those areas
facing the strictest levels of lockdown was welcome, our discussions with
government will continue to push for businesses in our region to be given the
backing they need to survive the months ahead, regardless of what tier we are
in.
“We
will also continue to work with government to develop a tracking and tracing
system which capitalises on the local expertise and knowledge of our
communities to help us fight the virus.
“Clearly,
there is still a long way to go and the fact we have avoided the most severe
level of restrictions should not be taken as a sign we are in the clear. We
must not get complacent.
“The
threat of the virus has not diminished, and we need every single person in our
region to do their bit to prevent it from ripping through our communities.
“If
we are to beat COVID-19 and protect our most vulnerable residents, we need
everybody to follow the restrictions in place, avoid gatherings and mixing
indoors with other households, and maintain the ‘Hands, Face, Space’ public
health guidance at all times.
“Failing
to do this will see infection rates rise further and, inevitably, harsher and
more damaging restrictions being imposed upon us.”
Additional details on Covid-19 advice and support in County Durham can be found at: www.durham.gov.uk/coronavirus
