The government ‘considers changing the tiers system again’ when the blockade ends on December 2

Ministers could change the tiers system again once the current lockdown in England ends after December 2, according to reports.

Under current plans, the tier system is set to return when we leave the second national lockdown early next month.

But instead of applying a council area by council area, the system could be changed again, this time dividing the country into larger regions, according to The Daily Telegraph.

This means that the entire northeast, northwest, southwest, or southeast could be treated as a single area.

Sources also told the newspaper that a fourth tier can be considered if infection rates are not lowered under Tier 3 restrictions.

Currently, Level 1 restrictions are described as ‘medium risk’ with Level 2 ‘high’ and Level 3 ‘very high’.

It comes after Downing Street and Matt Hancock confirmed yesterday that the regions could be placed at a different level by the end of the lockdown.

A source told the newspaper: “We will return to a regionalized approach after the shutdown, and the government has not explicitly said at this time that the levels will be exactly the same.

“People could enter at lower levels if they obey the lockdown rules and the R rate falls. The government will establish how the tiered system will look a week before the lockdown ends on December 2.”

Another told The Telegraph that there was a “high probability” that the government would move from tiering individual cities or regions to a new system of regional restrictions.

Despite frustration and confusion over the ever-evolving rules, sources say the move would be an attempt to “simplify the system.”

It comes after the government announced that 532 more people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, the highest number reported in a single day since May 12 and brings the UK total up. at 49,770.

Hancock said the UK drug regulator could approve Pfizer or Oxford vaccines within days of submitting a license application due to ongoing data analysis.

The Health Secretary told the Commons that the focus was on administering the blows if they pass safety tests and are approved by regulators, with a new vaccine possibly next summer.

Earlier Tuesday, Hancock said military and NHS personnel are on standby to launch a Covid-19 vaccine across the UK from early December and will run “seven days a week”, with GPs, new centers for vaccination and pharmaceuticals. playing a role.

Pop-up vaccination clinics are also expected to be used in some areas.

But the Royal College of GPs questioned what work they should stop to comply with the vaccine program.

Its president, Professor Martin Marshall, said: “The workload and resource pressures faced by general practice before the pandemic still exist and must be addressed.

“GPs and our teams will not be able to deliver this program alone.”

Mr. Hancock said there were many obstacles to overcome before the “vast task” of vaccination could begin, including a comprehensive review of clinical trial data.

But he said the NHS was leading work to get a vaccine to those most in need as soon as possible, including the elderly and health and care personnel, although most other people will not receive a vaccine until 2021.

Launching a vaccine would ease pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to avoid having to extend the national lockdown on England when it expires on December 2.

High-level conservative supporters, including former Brexit minister Steve Baker, have formed a “Covid recovery group” to resist such a move.

Experts hope that the first phase of vaccination of priority groups can prevent the vast majority of deaths from Covid-19.

When asked if a vaccine might be available by Christmas, Hancock said it was “absolutely a possibility,” adding that vaccination clinics would be open on holidays and weekends.

The UK government has ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, enough for about a third of the UK population.