New three-tier lockdown restrictions for England will be announced later today.
Liverpool is expected to have the strictest restrictions as their cases are significantly higher than other parts of the UK. Under the three-tier system, the Liverpool region will be classified as “medium", "high" or "very high" alert categories.
The Mayor of Liverpool city region, Steve Rotheram, told the BBC that negotiations took place through the night but nothing has yet been finalised.
He told the BBC he is adamant that further support is needed for workers and any businesses forced to close due to the tier-three restrictions. Rotheram fears that the current financial support systems in place will not go far enough. He added, “Some surety from national government that if we hit some milestones we can come out of tier three very quickly" was needed.
Local leaders in England and Westminster continue to discuss the implementation of the three-tier system and how to classify the regions of the UK.
The week before 6th October, records showed 600 people out of 100,000 people in Liverpool were infected with COVID-19, one of the highest case rates in England. The number of cases across England as a whole currently sits at 74 cases per 100,000 people.
The official announcement of new restrictions will be made public in a press conference at 18:00 today after Boris Johnson meets COBRA "to determine the final interventions”, and his announcement in the Commons.
Rishi Sunak and Prof Chris Whitty are expected to join the Prime Minister in the press conference this evening.
According to Stephen Powis, NHS England medical director, there are now more people in hospital with COVID-19 than before the initial restrictions were introduced in March. He told a press conference that Nightingale Hospitals in Manchester, Sunderland and Harrogate had also been told to prepare for more patients.
Last Friday, Scotland closed pubs and restaurants in the country’s central belt. Wales are monitoring the situation and have said the next few days will be telling, and a decision will be made then on whether national measures are implemented.
