Dismay as the North East is told to stay in
NORTH East residents slammed the Government’s “hotchpotch” approach to coronavirus restrictions as the region prepared to spend New Year’s Eve in Tier 4.
The region has joined the Midlands, parts of the North West and parts of the South West of England in the new highest category, into which places such as London were placed before Christmas.
The rules will leave huge numbers of the region’s businesses closed.
Leaders of the ‘LA7’ group of local authority leaders said it was “vital we act now”, as NHS services in the South of England become overwhelmed by the new, more easily transmissible strain of Covid-19.
Bu the change caused anger and confusion on social media, where many argued more consistent rules were needed. On Twitter, Newcastle resident Connor Watson said: “I thought the Health Secretary said Tier 3 was working in the North East! Unless Tier 4 is to stop a possible infection rise??”
@Nicolam1980 said: “What’s the point of the tier system? This area of the world stabilises the numbers and even reduces them and we get pushed up another tier again. There’ll be nothing left to come back to up here. Absolute shambles.”
Many wrote about the confusing nature of the rule changes, with @gateshead1986 tweeting: “I honestly couldn’t tell you what [you] can and can’t do in which tiers now. They have made a complete mess of the whole thing. We are worse off now than [in] March.”
While some wanted fewer restrictions, many called for a unified approach across the country, echoing the calls made by the North East leaders for a further national lockdown.
Newcastle Twitter user @Adcramps said: “Just put the entire UK into Tier 4, [bring in] online learning for all education and move to a 24-hour mass vaccination programme for the next 12 weeks. Why can’t we just be brutal for a short period of time rather than this hotchpotch dithering?”
@boxcollider agreed, saying: “In Newcastle, we’ve been in Tier 3 since before the last ‘lockdown’. Now we’re moving into Tier 4. It’s almost as if the tier system... doesn’t work.”
Others hit out over the lack of notice given to businesses by the Government. In Gateshead, @jesscumpsonx tweeted that business owners “are going to have to close with such little warning” and added: “Absolutely appalling yet again.”
A few backed the Government’s move. In Durham, @Alan_Reiss tweeted: “North East into Tier 4... Disappointing but seems right. Both South East-based parents have tested positive, having been extremely careful. This new strain... Stay safe people.”
Under Tier 4 restrictions, nonessential shops, hairdressers and leisure and entertainment venues must close, with a new ‘stay at home’ message introduced.
People are allowed to travel for education or childcare, and exercise is unlimited.
Outdoors, people can only meet with one person from another household at a time. And those in Tier 4 must not leave the region they live in.
The Government reviews the tier system on a fortnightly basis, using a number of methods to decide how well areas are coping with Covid. Ministers will consider factors including how quickly cases are the percentage of positive virus tests, as well as how well local health services are coping.