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Coronavirus pandemic
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Almost two million people in the northeast of England will see further restrictions following a surge in coronavirus cases.
Temporary measures include restrictions on home mixing and bars that close earlier in the evening.
The council areas of Northumberland, Newcastle, Sunderland, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead and County Durham will be affected starting at midnight.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there were “worrying rates of infection in the Northeast.”
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He said Sunderland currently has an infection rate of 103 cases per 100,000 residents, while in South Tyneside Gateshead and Newcastle the figures are over 70.
The government was taking “swift action” after councils covering the affected areas raised concerns, he said.
Under the new restrictions, Hancock said residents will not be able to mingle with people outside their homes and support the bubbles.
Restaurants may only offer table service and restaurants, bars and pubs must close between 22:00 BST and 05:00.
Newcastle City Council Leader Nick Forbes said the temporary measures were aimed at “preventing a harmful total lockdown.”
“The evidence that we have found from local testing is that it is spreading in three main areas: in pubs, in people’s houses and in grassroots sports,” he said.
“So [council leaders] they have gathered a series of requests to the government for additional restrictions around these areas for a fixed period of time to try to avoid a harmful total blockade. “
Council leaders had also requested additional funding for police surveillance to enforce the measures, as well as additional local testing facilities, Forbes added.
Matt Hancock said the people of the Northeast will “come together” to defeat the virus.
He said: “I know, the entire House knows, that these decisions have a real impact on families, businesses and local communities and I can tell everyone affected that we do not make these decisions lightly.
“We agree with the municipalities that we must follow the data and act, and the data says we must act now to be able to control the virus and keep people safe.”
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