‘TELL US WHY YOU PUT US IN TIER 3 AND HOW WE CAN GET OUT’
NOTTINGHAM MPS DEMAND CLEAR ANSWERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT
THE Government must clearly explain how the county can get itself out of Tier 3, Nottingham’s MPS have demanded.
It was announced yesterday that all of Nottinghamshire will go into the highest level of restrictions when the second national lockdown ends on Wednesday.
Nadia Whittome, the Labour MP for Nottingham East, said: “The Government must explain its rationale for the Tier 3 status, particularly in light of such a significant decrease in case numbers across all ages and with pressures on our hospitals beginning to ease.
“We also need clarity on when and how our city will transition to Tier 2, as well as a guarantee to fix test and trace, and of proper financial support for businesses, self-employed people, and those who need to stay at home to self isolate.”
During the peak in Nottingham, the city had the highest rates in the country, but since then rates had been consistently falling, and are now below the national average.
Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South, added: “It’s obviously disappointing that after all the personal sacrifices my constituents have made, the Government has nevertheless decided to place Nottingham in the highest tier.
“Ministers must explain how they reached this decision and what criteria has to be met for us to move down into a lower tier when the situation is reviewed in a fortnight’s time.”
The disappointment was shared by Nottingham North MP Alex Norris, who is also Labour’s shadow public health minister. He said: “The people of Nottingham have put in an incredible effort to reduce infection rates. There’s significant disappointment that we’re still in the highest tier.
“As local MPS we’re pressing for an answer for this, for details on how to get out of Tier 3, and for proper support for our businesses.”
And a leading business group says that the going into Tier 3 has “cancelled Christmas” for the hospitality industry in the region.
Scott Knowles, chief executive of the East Midlands Chamber, which represents firms from across the area, said: “The festive period is hugely important to companies in sectors such as hospitality, which will be worst hit by restrictions and would usually help them build up cashflow during the quieter periods of January and February.
“Going forward, it is essential the Government reviews its tier structure frequently and doesn’t delay in easing restrictions as cases drop because
every week businesses are forced to close has a significant impact.”
David Mellen, the leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s a bitter blow for people in Nottingham who have done the right thing, followed the rules and done an incredible job of driving down the rate of Covid infections from the highest in the country to below the national average.
“We had hoped that this would have meant we would be spared going into Tier 3.
“We will need the Government to provide further support for businesses, especially hospitality where they will be particularly badly hit.
“However, we must accept that these are the new rules we must abide by and given the valiant efforts locally in the past few weeks, I have no doubt that we will continue to drive down infection rates and be able to leave Tier 3 and enter Tier 2 very soon.”
Jonathan Gribbin is the director of public health for Nottinghamshire, and said: “People across Nottinghamshire have achieved a reduction in rates over recent weeks and I welcome the move out of lockdown, and a set of arrangements from December 2 which are clear and consistent.
“We will support our communities and businesses to adapt to the new rules.
“The Government has also announced an easement of the rules for a few days covering the Christmas holiday to enable family members or friends to meet up.
“As in the rest of the UK people in Nottinghamshire are urged to exercise caution and to take care to work within the guidance about how to do this safely. In this way, we can maintain our momentum in lowering infection rates.
“The regulations are here to protect us all and are designed to keep the rates low; and the lower the number of cases get the more likely we are to move down through the tiers and start to feel like things can return to normal again.”
“There is good news about the rollout of vaccines but it’s going to be a while before whole populations are protected from the virus. In the meantime, our local health and care services continue to experience severe pressures.
“I would urge people to continue to follow the best practice around ‘Hands, Face, Space’ and reduce contact with people from other households as much as possible. In particular, anyone who has symptoms of Covid-19 should isolate immediately and book a test by calling 119.”