Update: (3.35pm 23/12/2020) Weston & North Somerset escapes Tier 4 but town to move into Tier 3 restrictions on Boxing Day
It looks increasingly likely that North Somerset along with the whole of England will go into a third lockdown as early as Boxing Day as the mutant Covid strain continues to cause rising case numbers across the country.
The Government held a meeting today to consider a nationwide lockdown from December 26th, reports The Mirror exclusively.
The Gold Command meeting also discussed putting Birmingham into Tier 4 before Christmas as cases surge in the city. One source in the meeting said: "The situation is developing quickly so we need to respond at the same pace. It’s more likely that other parts of England could be put into Tier 4 from Boxing Day."
Gold Command meetings see top health officials, politicians and local leaders come together to consider how to deal with the virus in certain areas. Apparently the move to put Birmingham into Tier 4 will be delayed for now but an announcement on a third lockdown, which would come into place immediately after Christmas, could be made as soon as tomorrow (Wednesday December 23).
The lockdown could come in as soon as Boxing Day, though many in government are reportedly pushing for it to happen a few days after to avoid travel chaos.
Originally a tier review had been planned for December 30, but fears the mutant strain of Covid has spread means it could be brought forwards.
The news will undoubtedly cause more misery for local businesses in Weston who have already reported a reduction in footfall in the weeks running up to Christmas. A number of businesses in the town have been forced to close permanently as a result of the pandemic and the fear is more may follow suit.
It is unclear at this stage whether or not schools will be required to close during what would be the nations 3rd national lockdown since the pandemic began in March.
Comments