Unhappy new tiers – but freedom ‘is in reach’

Devon and Cornwall placed into Tier 3 – Somerset in Tier 4

DEVON and Cornwall are placed under the second highest level of Covid restrictions from today – drastically curbing New Year celebrations.

Neighbouring Somerset – where case rates have almost trebled in three weeks – went into the highest Tier Four, effectively lockdown in all but name.

At a Downing Street press conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, hailed the official approval of the UK-made Oxford-Astra-Zeneca vaccine but warned: “At this critical moment, with the prospect of freedom within reach, we’ve got to redouble our efforts to contain the virus.”

A further 981 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Wednesday, bringing the UK total to 72,548.

Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon (Designate) said putting the county into Tier Three was inevitable.

“Without further intervention with tighter restrictions, we are likely to have seen cases continuing to rise,” he said.

Cornwall Council revealed on Tuesday that case rates had soared by 44% in just a week. Civic leaders there were also expecting to be put into the higher Tier Three level of restrictions.

South West businesses called for more support. Clodagh Murphy, Chair of Exeter Chamber said: “We urgently call for emergency measures to support those businesses most affected.”

THE whole of Devon and Cornwall, with the exception of the Scillies, will go into Tier Three restrictions from today, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced.

In a major review, most of the UK is now under the toughest Tier Four or the second most restrictive Tier Three level, following a huge surge in coronavirus cases which has pushed the NHS close to breaking point.

When the tiers system came into effect, following November’s lockdown, Cornwall and the Scillies were in Tier One and Devon in Tier Two. The first review, just before Christmas, lifted Cornwall into the same Tier Two ranking as Devon.

Now both counties, along with Bath and North-East Somerset and Dorset, are in Tier Three. Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and South Somerset are all in the highest tier – Tier Four.

Tier Three means people can only meet indoors with those they live with or are in a support bubble with.

Outdoor meetings with a group of up to six people are permitted in parks, beaches, outdoor sports venues and other public spaces, however, for those in Tier Three.

Pubs, bars and restaurants may offer takeaway only, with indoor entertainment and tourist venues told to close.

A total of 12 million people will be in Tier Three from today, or 22% of the population of England. No area will be in Tier Two, while just 2,000 people – the population of the Isles of Scilly – will be in Tier One.

Plymouth Devonport’s Labour MP, Luke Pollard, said he feared the city could soon be in Tier Four, given the rate of increase in the virus.

“Plymouth’s figures are going in the wrong direction,” he said. “It is clear the virus is now out of control. We need to redouble efforts to slow the spread of the virus.

“I fear Tier Three restrictions are nothing more than a waiting room for Tier Four as it is clear the tier system is not holding the virus, and this is before the impact of household mixing over Christmas is fully realised,” Mr Pollard.

“Tier Three will be incredibly difficult for local businesses.... the Government needs to provide more help for those businesses, otherwise I fear many great Plymouth businesses may soon go bust.”

Some school openings will be delayed in high-risk areas.