WARRINGTON Borough Council has decided to bring forward Tier 3 local lockdown restrictions to one minute past midnight on Tuesday morning due to Public Health concerns over the town’s high COVID-19 infection rate.
It had originally been intended to bring the restrictions in next Thursday but the necessary legal paperwork has now been fast-tracked by the Government, meaning it will be last orders for the town’s bars and pubs which don’t have a substantial food offering on Monday night.
Explaining the decision, Warrington Borough Council’s Chief Executive Prof Steven Broomhead MBE told Warrington-Worldwide: “Because of the high infection rates in Warrington we have decided to bring forward the Tier 3 restrictions due to the ongoing public health risk.
“The Government has managed to turn the necessary legal paperwork around so the Tier 3 restrictions will now come into force at one minute past midnight on Tuesday morning.”
The joint agreement for Warrington’s enhanced restrictions to start from Tuesday was based on the need to urgently bring down the number of cases of coronavirus in the town and protect hospital capacity.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Russ Bowden, added: “The decision for Warrington to enter tier 3 on Tuesday is the necessary and proportionate thing to do. We know that our case numbers in Warrington remain stubbornly high, but what is more concerning is the number of admissions into hospital. The upsetting and grim reality is that there are more people in hospital, more people in intensive care beds and more people being taken by the virus, and we need to do all we can to try to bring this under control.
“Moving into tier 3 is one of many important steps we need to take as a town to try and reduce transmission of the virus. Please keep doing all you can to play your part: wash your hands, keep your distance from others not in your household, wear a cloth face covering and if you have any symptoms, however mild, self-isolate and get tested immediately. We need to act together, and now, to protect our elderly and vulnerable loved ones, and to support our hospital and their staff who are doing a tremendous job.”
Warrington’s move to a ‘very high’ risk area means that:
·You must not socialise with anybody you don’t live with, unless you have formed a household or childcare support bubble, in any indoor setting or venue – including homes or restaurants
·You must not socialise with anybody you don’t live with, unless you have formed a household or childcare support bubble, in any private garden, or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events
·You must not socialise in a group of more than six in an outdoor public space, like parks
·Pubs and bars that do not serve substantial meals as a restaurant, like a main lunchtime or evening meal, must close
·You should avoid travelling outside Warrington wherever possible – only essential journeys, such as for work or caring responsibilities, should be made
·You should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK
The Tier 3 lockdown will last for a period of 28 days and then be reviewed.
Around £1.68 million of a near £6m funding package will be allocated to supporting the council’s Public Health response – including for public protection, testing and enforcement services – with £4.2 million to be used for business
and employment support. This is on top of the new job support scheme measures announced by the Chancellor which will provide additional business support in Warrington.
The full list of ‘very high’ risk guidance, restrictions and exemptions will be updated in due course at warrington.gov.uk/coronavirus
Good to conclude 70 hr week. Robust cooperative and positive meetings with No 10 to achieve our local Covid agreement. Objective was to protect people from the bug not a dash for cash although I am really worried about the future economy Time for us all to pull together 👥💪👌
— Prof Steve Broomhead MBE 🌈 (@BroomheadSteven) October 24, 2020
