Bristol and North Somerset will move to a lower level of coronavirus restrictions due to falling levels of transmissions, Matt Hancock has revealed.
The health secretary said the areas would move down to tier 2 — meaning pubs, restaurants and other entertainment venues will be able to open their doors during the Christmas period.
However, the cabinet minister said the “vast majority” of places in England already in tier 3 restrictions, including Greater Manchester, will see no change to the current measures – despite pleas from local leaders.
It comes amid rising Covid-19 infections in England, especially in the south, and fears of a third wave of the virus ahead of a Christmas reprieve on households being able to mix for a limited time.
But the move prompted a frustrated response from the Manchester MP Sir Graham Brady – also the chair of the 1922 committee of backbench Tories – who cited higher infection rates in neighbouring areas with lower restrictions.
“What exactly do we have to do to be moved out of tier 3?” he asked Mr Hancock. “We have had severe restrictions for nine months, where in nine of the ten boroughs rates are below the national average.”
The mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham added: “When cases rise in the north, the north goes under restrictions. When cases rise in London and the south east everyone stays under restrictions.”
Responding to the announcement that South Yorkshire would also remain in the highest level of measures, Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis said it was “another hammer blow” for communities and businesses.
“Once again, mayors and local leaders have been cut out of the decision-making process and not even afforded the basic courtesy of being consulted, or informed in advance, about this decision.”
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Hancock said: “In Bristol and North Somerset rates have come down from 432 per 100,000 to 121 and falling. Bristol and North Somerset will come out of tier 3 into tier 2 on Saturday.
“Rates in Herefordshire have also come down to 45 in 100,000 and are falling, and we can therefore bring Herefordshire out of tier 2 and into tier 1.”
From the weekend, a total of 38 million people will be living in tier 3 of the government’s Covid-19 restrictions from this Saturday – 68 per cent of the population of England. Some 30 per cent of the population will be in tier 2 while just 2 per cent will be in tier 1.
Setting out the findings of the first full review into the tiered measures, which were reintroduced a fortnight ago after the second national lockdown, the health secretary added the country must remain “vigilant”.
“Yesterday, 25,161 cases were reported and there are 18,038 people in hospital with coronavirus in the UK. We must keep suppressing this virus.
“And this isn’t just a matter for government or for this House, it is a matter for every single person and these are always the most difficult months for people’s health and for the NHS.
“And especially with the vaccine already here, we must be cautious as we accelerate the vaccine deployment as per the winter plan. We’ve come so far, we mustn’t blow it now.”
