JABS CAN LEAD US BACK OUT OF TIER 4
As North East falls under harshest restrictions, the campaign to get us all vaccinated is just hotting up
NORTH East leaders have urged the Government to impose a national lockdown as the region was plunged into Tier 4.
Matt Hancock announced that the North East would face the toughest restrictions during a speech in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon.
Non-essential shops, hairdressers and leisure and entertainment venues must close, with a new stay-at-home message introduced.
The announcement comes after SAGE (the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) said England’s Tier 4 restrictions aren’t tough enough to control the mutant Covid-19 strain.
In a statement released shortly after the announcement, North East leaders representing Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, and County Durham, said that localised Tier 4 restrictions are not enough.
The leaders say that a national lockdown is the only way of protecting health and care services along with the most vulnerable.
They also argued that this measure is needed to halt the spread of newer coronavirus variants while the vaccine roll-out continues.
The statement ended by urging anyone with coronavirus symptoms to get tested as soon as possible.
Here is the statement from the council leaders in full:
“Today the North East has been placed into Tier 4 restrictions by Government, alongside many other parts of the country.
“We understand this may be disappointing for our residents and businesses who have worked so hard with us to try and slow the spread of the virus, but we ask again for everyone’s support so that these Tier 4 restrictions have the impact they need to.
“We thank everyone who has been doing their bit for so long, and we know everyone desperately wishes we could see an end to the restrictions.
“We understand people are tired and frustrated but there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it has been uplifting to see vaccinations being delivered across the region every day which can give us hope for 2021. Today’s news that the AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved makes this light shine a little brighter and will be a welcome boost for the vaccine programme.
“As our directors of public health stated last week, the new variant of the deadly virus is being transmitted almost 70% faster than other strains and vulnerable communities, NHS services and social care facilities have been quickly consumed by it in the south of the country so it is vital we act now to avoid our local services being overwhelmed.
“Our view is that the Government should consider a national lockdown now to ensure the spread of the new variant is slowed and efforts can be focused on the crucial roll-out of the vaccine. This is a national problem and a national solution is required now.
“After a disrupted Christmas the last thing any of us wanted was further restrictions as we enter 2021 but, sadly, we feel this is the only sensible option to protect our health and care services
and the most vulnerable in our communities.
“One in three people has Covid-19 without symptoms...so we need to be even more vigilant around social distancing, social contacts and maintaining strong hand hygiene – washing our hands regularly and wearing face coverings everywhere the law requires us to.
“Under Tier 4 there should be no household mixing inside, apart from within a support bubble, [with people] only meeting with a maximum of one person from another household outdoors, while non-essential shops, personal care [businesses], [and] indoor gyms must close, alongside our hospitality industry, which has been forced to stay closed for the last two months.
“We will continue to press Government for fair decisions and continue to seek strengthened business support to help businesses potentially affected by further measures and continue working with ministers on how best to deploy targeted community testing to open our economy, while seeking localisation of the national test-and trace-programme.
“Government decisions regarding
schools are communicated directly to education establishments, without consultation with local authorities, however [we] continue to provide strong support to all our schools and education settings throughout these times.
“In the meantime, anyone with symptoms should book a test as soon as possible and follow the guidance around self-isolation until the result is known and thereafter if it comes back positive. We all need to put in that extra effort to keep ourselves, our friends, our families and our communities as safe as possible in the coming weeks. “Thank you,
Coun Simon Henig CBE, Leader, Durham County Council; Coun Martin Gannon, Leader, Gateshead Council; Coun Nick Forbes CBE, Leader, Newcastle City Council; Norma Redfearn CBE, Elected Mayor, North Tyneside Council; Coun Glen Sanderson, Leader, Northumberland County Council; Coun Tracey Dixon, Leader, South Tyneside Council; Coun Graeme Miller, Leader, Sunderland City Council; Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor; Kim McGuinness, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner.”