How county has avoided Tier 4
RUTLAND is the only county in the region to so far avoid being put in Tier 4.
It did however, move up from Tier 2 to Tier 3 on New Year’s Eve.
The county’s infection rates remain relatively low, at 182.8 cases per 100,000 people.
Mike Sandys, director of public health for Rutland, said: “Rutland being placed in Tier 3, rather than Tier 4 like the rest of the East Midlands, is based on its low infection rates.
“This is because the county benefits from having a low population density, not being directly connected to a big city, and having a low population means that we can identify links and take action to prevent further spread rapidly.
“Finally, I have to say, the county has been blessed with a bit of luck up until now.
“Residents have taken practical action to protect themselves and each other, but it is imperative that complacency doesn’t set in.
“Rutland may have been lucky up until now, but we need to ensure that luck doesn’t run out and everyone needs to continue to play their part.”
A spokesperson for Rutland County Council stressed it was important for those living in neighbouring Tier 4 areas not to travel to the county for any reasons not set out under the Tier 4 guidelines.
Brian Cooper, 57, who runs Oakham Cycle Centre, said: “We are a very rural county with only a couple of towns, Oakham and Uppingham.
“It’s more older people here and I think they are a bit more careful.
“Everybody wears masks and it’s unusual to see anyone doing anything wrong.
“There are only about 70,000 people in the county and there’s a lot of open space, and we’re not on the main train line.”