Rising rate of infection ‘to put us in Tier 3’
Vaccine progress lifts optimism but tough restrictions expected
LEADING local politicians are expecting East Lancashire to be placed in tier three when Boris Johnson announces which areas will face the toughest coronavirus measures. MP Sara Britcliffe and council leader Miles Parkinson both said they could not see Covid-19 infection rates falling far enough for the area to escape the tightest controls which will last until March.
Infection rates in Hyndburn have continued to rise - bucking the trend for the rest of the county where weekly cases are falling.
Hyndburn now has the seventh highest infection rate in England and the highest in the North West after 379 people tested positive in the seven days to November 19 - the latest Public Health England figures available. This gives the East Lancashire borough an infection rate of 467.7 cases per 100,000 people and is up from the previous weekly rate of 386.2.
The only other Lancashire local authority with an infection rate higher than 400 is Burnley.
LEADING local politicians expect East Lancashire to be in the toughest tier three of coronavirus restrictions when Boris Johnson announces new rules on Thursday.
Professor Dominic Harrison said he could not see Covid-19 infection rates falling far enough for the area to escape the tightest controls which will last until March.
His view was echoed by Hyndburn Council leader Cllr Miles Parkinson, the borough’s Conservative MP Sara Britcliffe and Pendle’s Labour political boss Cllr Mohammed Iqbal.
They were reacting to the Prime Ministers statement to the House of Commons this afternoon when he said: “For the first time since this wretched virus took hold we can see a route out of the pandemic.”
But he said there would be a new, tougher tier system for different parts of England when lockdown was lifted on December 2 although non-essential shops, personal service businesses such a hairdressers and gyms would be allowed to reopen.
Under the new system in tier one, a maximum of six people can meet indoors or outdoors; in tier two, there is no mixing of households indoors, while a maximum of six people can meet outdoors; and in tier three - the toughest - household mixing is not allowed indoors, or in most outdoor places although up to six will be able to meet in large outdoor spaces such as parks.
In tier three - where Lancashire was before the national lockdown - pubs and restaurants will restricted to takeaway service and delivery, indoor entertainment venues will be closed, travelling our of area will be curtailed and residents must work from home whenever possible.
Prof Harrison said: “I cannot see Covid infection rate falling far enough by Thursday for East Lancashire’s boroughs to avoid a tier three judgement.
“The other consideration is rates of hospital bed occupancy and currently there are more people in Lancashire’s hospitals with Covid than at the peak of the first wave.
“We have been told it will be tougher restrictions that the tier three than we had before but not exactly what the means.
“The difficult decision will be whether to put all of the county or part of it into the toughest controls but I expect Blackburn with Darwen and other Pennine Lancashire boroughs to be in tier three although Ribble Valley might escape.
“If the government does ease restrictions on household mixing, as the Prime Minister indicated, I would expect a surge in coronavirus cases from the third week in January to the end of February which could lead to tougher controls.”
Cllr Parkinson said: “I would expect Hyndburn and East Lancashire to be in the new tier three plus.
“My biggest fear is for bars and restaurants which have gone through a lot already. I am concerned some will not survive. Some people have got used to drinking at home, will their customers ever come back?”
Cllr Iqbal said: “I expect the whole of Lancashire to be in tier three plus.
“I fear that despite indications from Mr Johnson that non-essential shops, hairdressers and gyms will be able to reopen next week, the government will tell us that in tier three they cannot.
“We are being left dangling. People need to know the restrictions. Why can he not tells us now?
“If restrictions are eased over Christmas, it needs to be done very carefully or we will all pay for it in the New Year.”
Miss Britcliffe said: “I would expect Hyndburn - where the rate is currently more than 400 cases per 100,000 residents - to be in tier three. I hope the will be come mitigation for families to meet over Christmas.”
Lancashire County Council’s Conservative leader Cllr Geoff Driver said: “I would not like to make a forecast but we are making preparations to be in a tougher set of tier three restrictions.”
His Blackburn with Darwen Labour counterpart Cllr Mohammed Khan said: “It all depends how fast the infection rate comes down but I would expect the borough to be in tier two or tier three.”
Mr Johnson told the Commons that Tier allocations will be reviewed every 14 days, and last until March.
He said: “I can’t say that Christmas will be normal this year but in a period of adversity time spent with loved ones is even more precious for people of all faiths and none.
“We all want some kind of Christmas, we need it, we certainly feel we deserve it.
“But this virus obviously is not going to grant a Christmas truce.”