‘Tier 3 plus’ is right approach
PUBLIC HEALTH BOSS DEFENDS EXTRA MEASURES TO HALT VIRUS
A PUBLIC health boss in Nottinghamshire says extra lockdown measures in the county are akin to ‘Tier 3 plus’, but that this approach is what’s required by the Government.
Jonathan Gribbin, public health director for the county, says local authorities are required to include “additional restrictions” to the baseline Tier 3 model in order to meet criteria for the measures.
This is why, he says, measures in Nottinghamshire are more strict than in other ‘very high alert’ areas across the country.
The restrictions have seen the closure of swathes of businesses across Nottinghamshire.
This includes nail bars, beauty salons and tattoo parlours, while there are also restrictions on cafes meaning they are no longer allowed to offer teas and coffees - unless people are eating a main meal.
Shops are also be prohibited from selling alcohol after 9pm.
All of these measures have not been seen elsewhere in England where Tier 3 restrictions are in force.
When the measures were announced on Wednesday, one council leader described them as “effectively Tier 3 plus”.
Speaking to the Post, said the framework set out by the Government meant that all ‘very high alert’ areas are required to bring in these additional rules to “turn around the trajectory” of Covid-19.
He added: “Going back two weeks ago, Chris Whitty stated very clearly that for an area that warrants going into very high alert level, any area of that sort will need to make sure it included additional restrictions to the baseline Tier 3 measures.
“Without that, it would not be sufficient to curb the trajectory of the virus.
“We have worked on that basis, and it is some of that which has underpinned our selection of a number of additional measures.
“When you take them together, we believe will give Nottinghamshire the best chance of turning around the trajectory over the next 28 days.
“So when people have talked about Tier 3 plus, that is the framework the Government has set.
“I’m not aware of any areas of the country that have done anything other than Tier 3 plus.”