‘Sadness’ as Tier Three hits the city
MANY LEFT CONFUSED BY NEW AND STRICTER RULES
NOTTINGHAM shoppers have spoken of their sadness about Tier Three as the city entered its first day of stricter new measures.
People were accepting more changes to their daily lives as the county officially entered the Government’s “very high” coronavirus alert level.
Alcohol sales are banned in shops after 9pm. Tattoo parlours, tanning and nail salons, and piercing services were forced to close. All cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs were closed, unless they served substantial meals.
Gyms and hairdressers have been allowed to stay open, as have cinemas, hotels and theatres.
Alex Mace, 22, of Sherwood, who works in a clothes shop in the city centre, said: “It might kill trade, to be honest. People don’t have as much of a reason to come out now. It’s sad. I realise there’s a balancing act with slowing the virus and keeping the economy going, but I fear it won’t help.
“There’s an element of people just looking for loopholes now rather than wanting to play it by the book, I think.
“We don’t know how long it’ll be for either. They say a review in 28 days but who knows anymore?”
Cafe owners had the restrictions sprung on them at short notice.
They were bewildered and confused by rules banning customers sitting with a cup of coffee but allowing them to have a substantial meal such as a breakfast or lunch.
Jane Cook, 51, of Rushcliffe, was heading into the city for a hair appointment, and said: “As you can imagine I’m pleased hair salons can stay open but I don’t really understand why beauty places have to shut.
“It’s a sad day for Nottingham. A lot of businesses will suffer badly from this. The rules and closures seen confusing and contrasting with other areas in Tier Three.
“It feels like we’ve been made an example of a bit.”
Covid-19 hospital admissions at the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital are now higher than during the height of the first wave of the pandemic in April, according to Public Health England and the Government.
Lora Day, 36, of Sneinton, who was in the city centre with her son. added: “It’s not as dead as I thought it might be this morning. People still have things to do. I don’t understand why you can’t see family members but you can go and sit in a cinema with strangers still.
“I have friends who work in salons and they are really worried about what the future will be. It’s a scary time for us. I hope it will bring down the rate as our hospitals need protecting. But I worry about the impact it will have on other health factors like mental health and cancer treatment.”