FEARS FOR BUSINESSES AS WE END YEAR IN TIER 4
REGION’S LEADERS CALL FOR GREATER ECONOMIC SUPPORT
GREATER Manchester leaders said even tougher restrictions will be a major blow to the region’s economy after we were moved into Tier 4.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday announced changes to local restrictions as infection rates continue to rise across England.
Tier 4 is currently the toughest tier and includes the closure of nonessential shops and stricter rules on social mixing.
The latest announcement also sees Lancashire, Cheshire, Warrington, the north east, Nottingham, Birmingham, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire move up from Tier 3 to Tier 4.
The new tiers came into force at 12.01am today.
Addressing the House of Commons, Mr Hancock said: “Sharply rising cases and the hospitalisations that follow demonstrate the need to act where the virus is spreading.”
The health secretary told MPs that the majority of new cases recorded yesterday ‘are believed to be the new variant’.
Mr Hancock added: “Unfortunately, this new variant is now spreading across most of England and cases are doubling fast.
“It is, therefore, necessary to apply Tier 4 measures to a wider area, including the remaining parts of the south east, as well as large parts of the midlands, the north west, the north east and the south west.”
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester council, said businesses will ‘not be able to survive indefinitely’.
“The new strain of coronavirus is cause for concern and the enhanced restrictions should be followed judiciously to limit the spread of the variant, which we know passes more readily between people,” he said.
“The prospect of Tier 4 will be received once again as a critical blow to the city’s hospitality industry – along with wider retailers who will also now need to close – and whose resilience to the economic impact of the virus is wearing ever thin.
“It is clear that businesses will not be able to survive indefinitely if they are forced to close. Remember that Manchester has been living with enhanced restrictions since March with little respite, and the key question is what further support can businesses expect from government if they are asked to continue to shut up shop at a crucial time in their trading year.”
Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell said she hadn’t expected the region to move up a tier.
“Very, very tough after all these months of the toughest restrictions,” she tweeted.
She added: “Without more economic support for retail shops, hairdressers, beauty, hospitality and their supply chains (and ecosystem), this will be the death knell for many businesses. Start by using the £2.1bn returned by big supermarket to support more businesses.”
Meanwhile, Wigan MP Lisa Nandy tweeted: “Really tough news that Greater Manchester is moving into Tier 4 from midnight.
“After a call today with the Health Minister and Deputy Chief Medical Officer I’m confident this is sadly necessary. Please look after yourself and each other.”
But Denton MP Andrew Gwynne said the government’s tiering system has not worked and ‘has been a public health disaster’.
In a statement on his website he said: “I didn’t support the government’s tiering system because it just does not work. Greater Manchester has been under Covid restrictions since July 29 which is testament to the system not working.
“I have always favoured a hyperlocally targeted approach to test, trace and isolate similar to the suc
cessful schemes in Scandinavia. That always made much more sense to me, ensuring that those households or neighbourhoods affected got sufficient support whilst the rest of us could go about our daily lives (with precautionary measures like social distancing) again. That should have been rolled out over the summer. It was a wasted opportunity. The crucial thing now is we defeat the virus. The vaccine roll-out must be done swiftly and we have to get our lives back to normal as quickly as we can.
“Switching lockdowns on and off with multiple confusing rule changes has been a public health disaster.”
Bury South MP Christian Wakeford said the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines should offer some hope to those living under the toughest restrictions.
He tweeted: “The majority of the North West will be moving into Tier 4 as of midnight (last night). Whilst this is disappointing news the rollout of the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines will hopefully keep the length of these restrictions to a minimum”
While Chris Green, MP for Bolton West and Atherton, tweeted simply: “Very disappointing for Bolton West and Atherton.”
David Regan, director of Public Health for Manchester, said there is ‘no evidence’ that the new coronavirus variant causes people to be more ill than previous strains.
But he said ‘the fact that it can spread from one person to another more easily is cause for concern’”.
He added: “However, we already know the best ways of protecting ourselves and loved ones from the virus. And it remains as important as it ever was to follow the rules in place to keep us safe - by washing hands, keeping distance from others, and wear a face covering.
“If you do have symptoms, book a test immediately. And if you’re contacted to receive the vaccine, please attend your appointment.”