Covid alert level: London, Essex and other areas moving to Tier 2

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]]> Millions of people in London, Essex, York and other areas face tougher Tier 2 Covid measures from Saturday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

It means more than half of England’s population will be living under high or very high-alert restrictions.

Under Tier 2 high-alert measures, there is a ban on households mixing indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.

It comes as a final decision has

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The areas to go into high alert restrictions this weekend are:

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Delivering a statement to the Commons, the health secretary said “things will get worse before they get better”.

“Now, I know that these measures are not easy but I also know that they are vital,” Mr Hancock told MPs.

“Responding to this unprecedented pandemic requires difficult choices, some of the most difficult choices any government has to make in peacetime.”

Labour mayor Sadiq Khan told London’s City Hall there was “simply no other option” to the new restrictions.

“Nobody wants to see more restrictions but this is deemed to be necessary in order to protect Londoners,” he said.

Mr Khan said he is continuing to press the government for more financial support, adding that “we’ve got a difficult winter ahead”.

The London mayor also backed calls by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for a temporary national “circuit-breaker” to stem the spread of the disease.

But concerns have been raised about the impact the restrictions will have on businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector.

The tier change means the capital’s 3,640 pubs and 7,556 restaurants will not be eligible for government support available to premises which have been ordered to close.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the trade association for Britain’s brewing and pub sector, said Tier 2 restrictions without a “proper package of support” would “decimate” pubs.

Emma McClarkin, BBPA chief executive, said: “All pubs are already particularly struggling due to the current restrictions of the 22:00 curfew, rule of six and low consumer confidence exacerbated by low footfall caused by a lack of tourists and commuters.

“These further restrictions will leave most pubs fighting for their very survival.”

Labour shadow minister and Ilford North MP Wes Streeting said the new restrictions in London would keep businesses open “in name only” as he called for more economic support.

Robert Halfon, the Conservative MP for Harlow in Essex, said he welcomed Tier 2 measures for the county but would call on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to prevent businesses suffering financially from the move.

media captionCovid tier lockdown: What is the tier lockdown system in England? ]]>

Meanwhile, discussions are continuing on whether Greater Manchester will be moved into the highest tier of restrictions.

A financial package has not been finalised, with local leaders expressing concerns about the impact on the hospitality industry of going into Tier 3.

Mr Hancock confirmed in the Commons that no decision had been made, adding “but we need to make rapid progress”.

Meanwhile, Liverpool is considering a two-week half-term break for schools as part of its “battle with Covid-19”.

Under the plan, backed by a teaching union, pupils would be taught remotely at home for the second week.

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