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Northeast leaders have urged the government to “look at the local evidence” before forcing the region to adopt Level 3 lockdown measures.
The heads of the council have pleaded with ministers not to push them to the highest level of Covid-19 restrictions, as has now happened with Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire, after receiving a pardon last week to show that the measures of Existing Level 2 are working.
Leaders from Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham say infection rates are declining here and there is “no significant pressure” on local hospitals.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that Greater Manchester was undergoing a Level 3 lockdown, amid a bitter dispute with Tube Mayor Andy Burnham and other local leaders who saw talks on a support package fail. business.
And South Yorkshire has today become the latest region to come under Level 3 restrictions, but Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed there are “no imminent plans” for the Northeast to be placed in the strictest lockdown category.
In a statement issued Wednesday morning, Northeast leaders urged the public to “please continue to do your part” to control the virus and avoid tougher measures.
They added: “We know that it is difficult not to be able to physically see and hug loved ones, to enjoy a night with friends at the theater or in the pub, but by not mixing homes and following the rules, you are making a difference.
“We are disappointed that Level 3 was imposed on Greater Manchester without the agreed financial support and we urge the government to engage with us and look at local evidence before forcing us down the same path.
“Our public health directors are working closely together and throughout the region we are seeing early signs of stabilization in cases.
“NHS colleagues are working very hard to keep services open and are not reporting significant pressure, however we urge everyone to use NHS services appropriately.
“We continue to collaborate with the government and we will show how the most recent data shows that the restrictions we introduced in the region on September 18, before the national tier system, appear to be having an impact.”
Bars and pubs would be forced to close if the Northeast is placed under Level 3 ‘Very High’ restrictions unless they serve ‘substantial’ food.
Current restrictions in the region prohibit people from different households from mingling indoors, but people can visit pubs and restaurants with those from their own home or the bubble of support.
The latest figures have shown that the infection rate is declining in most of the seven council areas, with increases only recorded in County Durham and Sunderland.
Here are the latest figures for the seven days through October 16:
- Durham County: 344.5 new cases per 100,000 residents (compared to 317.5 in the seven days to October 9)
- Newcastle upon Tyne – 334.5 (532.0)
- Sunderland – 325.5 (301.0)
- South Tyneside – 235.1 (263.6)
- Gateshead – 227.2 (279.1)
- North Tyneside – 200.6 (283.3)
- Northumberland – 164.7 (196.0)
In their statement, Northeast leaders said they would “continue to push hard for a realistic financial support package” and again urged local officials to have control over the test and trace efforts.
They added: “It is imperative that we don’t let our guard slip or fool ourselves into a false sense of security just because we are seeing a slowly improving image. Doing so would undo all your hard work.
“The past few weeks have seen the Northeast united with the public, businesses, residents, and communities working together to address the pandemic. We must all continue to contribute our grain of sand. Thank you.”
The statement was issued by council leaders Nick Forbes, Martin Gannon, Glen Sanderson, Norma Redfearn, Iain Malcolm, Graeme Miller, and Simon Henig, in addition to the Mayor of North for Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, and Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner , Kim McGuinness.
Hancock told the House of Commons on Tuesday: “It is important that we take action if necessary, but there are early signs that the number of cases in the Northeast is beginning to flatten.”
” In the first instance, that is happening among younger people and I am still concerned about the number of cases of people over 60 who of course are the people who are most likely to end up in hospital or worse.
” So we will follow the situation very closely, but we have no imminent plans to make a change and if the clinical council for change needed to move urgently, then of course we would seek to do so with the support of the local area. ”
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