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Millions of people could be banned from mingling in and out and thousands of pubs could be forced to close under new coronavirus restrictions.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to outline a new three-tier system of restrictions on Monday, and the measures are expected to force the closure of bars and restaurants in the north of England.
Under the proposed system, different parts of the country would be placed in different categories, and the areas at the highest level are expected to face the toughest measures.
Ben Houchen, the conservative mayor of Tees Valley, has said the third-tier restrictions are expected to apply in blocks of four weeks.
Pubs and bars would be required to close and mixing would not be allowed in the home for indoor or outdoor socializing.
The measure could affect millions of people living in areas with high COVID-19 rates throughout England.
Property consultant Altus Group has said there are 7,171 pubs in restricted areas in the north of England at risk of temporary closure.
Joe Anderson, the mayor of Liverpool, said he has been in talks with Number 10 about putting the city on the third tier, according to The Sunday Telegraph.
It comes amid growing concern over the number of cases and the capacity of intensive care units in area hospitals.
However, Northern England leaders have criticized the government’s broader plans and have said that ministers are treating the region as “second-class”.
Nor have they ruled out legal action.
Westminster has been crafting proposals to give mayors more powers over the Test and Trace system to try to secure the support of northern leaders, The Sunday Times reports.
Details of the plans were being discussed between ministers and mayors on Saturday amid warnings that immediate action is needed to prevent the NHS from flooding in the north, the newspaper added.
People were seen socializing in city centers across the UK, including Liverpool, Newcastle and London, on Saturday night at the head of possible pub closures.
It comes as the number of people hospitalized with coronavirus surged across all parts of England on Saturday, rising to 1,167 in the North West from 725 the previous week.
A further 15,166 laboratory-confirmed coronavirus cases were reported in the UK on Saturday, with 81 more deaths confirmed than people who died within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19.
Separate figures released by UK statistical agencies show that 58,000 deaths have now been recorded in the UK where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
People in Liverpool were in town ahead on Saturday night before measures were expected to tighten.
Foreign Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Friday that workers at companies forced to close under the new restrictions will have two-thirds of their salaries paid by the government.
But Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham He said that accepting Sunak’s financial package would “deliver” people to hardships in the run-up to Christmas.
Speaking at a press conference with political leaders from Liverpool, Sheffield and Tyneside on Saturday, Burnham said the measures risk “serious layoffs” and company closures.
Mr Burnham added: “It will flatten the north of England and widen the north-south divide.”
Steve Rotherham, Mayor of Liverpool City Region, said during the conference: “The government cannot do a COVID lockdown for Liverpool City Region and the North cheaply.”
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Northern leaders have called for more cash to support areas under tighter restrictions, warning ministers that they cannot blockade the north “cheaply.”
West Yorkshire council leaders also warned on Friday that “significantly” more financial support was needed to avoid an even deeper economic catastrophe.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer also criticized the business aid package, saying the government had “lost sight of the guiding principle” that restrictions are always accompanied by adequate financial support.
But the Sunday Times has reported that plans are being drawn up to give local leaders powers to deploy an army of volunteer contact trackers, as well as to give local authorities more control over mobile test units and call centers without appointment.
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A government spokeswoman said all financial support will be kept under review to support businesses and protect jobs over the coming weeks and months.
In North Wales, new coronavirus restrictions were introduced in Bangor at 6pm on Saturday, meaning that people will not be allowed to enter or leave the area without a ‘reasonable excuse’ and will only be able to meet people with the they don’t live outdoors, he said.
England Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam He said the country is at a similar tipping point as the first wave of coronavirus, but that it may prevent history from repeating itself.
The UK reported another 15,166 coronavirus cases and 81 more deaths in Saturday’s daily update.
It marked an increase of 1,302 cases from Friday’s daily figures, when 87 deaths were reported, and means that the UK has now recorded 42,760 coronavirus-related deaths.
