Readers react to speculation that East Riding will be out of Tier 3 before Christmas
PEOPLE in East Yorkshire have reacted to news that the East Riding could be out of Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions by Christmas.
The toughest Tier 3 restrictions set to be imposed on the East Riding after the lockdown ends this week could only last just over a fortnight after the Prime Minister backtracked.
On Saturday evening, Boris Johnson announced he would reform his new coronavirus crackdown before Christmas after threats by backbenchers to vote down the Government’s plans, according to reports.
And people in Hull and the East Riding have had their say on the news.
Taking to Facebook, one said: “Well it won’t be Tier 2 for long as many Tier 3 residents will pop across for a substantial meal.”
Another wrote: “I wouldn’t bet money on the three tier system even lasting until Christmas.
“I’m sure within a couple of weeks it will have been amended to a red-amber-green system, the a 1-5 grading, then a high/medium/ low system, then four tier system with an additional A* grade, then a rare/medium/well-done system. And they’ll all be ignored.”
While one said: “East Riding shouldn’t be in Tier 3 especially when North Yorkshire have more cases and is in Tier 2.”
According to the Sunday Times, the Prime Minister wrote to MPS signalling that millions of people who will be hit with the toughest Tier 3 restrictions this week could see them eased on December 19.
It has been suggested he will split the country into boroughs rather than regions.
It means the East Riding could be downgraded to Tier 2, in a much-needed boost for the hospitality industry, but it is likely that Hull would remain in Tier 3 due to the higher number of coronavirus cases in the city.
Taking to Facebook, more had their say on the news.
One said: “The man is a complete joke.”
Another said: “Ridiculous. He should stick to his guns.”
A third said: “He backtracked? Now there’s a surprise.”
Mr Johnson announced that the new rules would be scrapped altogether in February unless MPS want them to continue – putting an end to claims that tough restrictions will continue until Easter.
Mr Johnson wrote: “Where evidence shows the disease is in sustained decline, areas will be moved down.”
In his letter, Mr Johnson said the tiers plan would have a “sunset clause” and would be abolished on February 3 unless MPS vote to extend it.
In a clear signal that regions could be in different tiers, he said “every local authority area and every region” would be reviewed every two weeks to see whether it should be in a lower tier. It suggests the Government is abandoning the approach of restrictions applying to entire counties.
He added that new tiers will be announced on December 17 and come into force two days later.
Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, said only last week that while Tier 3 would cut infections, Tier 2 was capable only of “holding the line”.
Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Mr Johnson said: “We are so nearly out of our captivity. But if we try to jump the fence now, we will simply tangle ourselves in the last barbed wire, with disastrous consequences for the NHS.”