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Fears have risen tonight that Christmas could be at risk due to a new, more severe coronavirus tiering system to stop the spread of the virus.
Hopes of lifting all lockdown rules after December 2 were dashed tonight after PHE chief Dr. Susan Hopkins said Level 1 was not working, which could jeopardize family dinners and indoor parties.
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The Level 1 rules, the lowest level of restrictions in the entire country, include a curfew in bars at 10 pm and the rule of six.
But it was suggested tonight that this could be removed or made even more difficult when England comes out of the four-week lockdown on December 2.
The next stage is Level 2, where people are prohibited from mixing indoors with people from other households.
Dr. Hopkins said tonight: “We see very little effect from Level 1.
“When we look at what the Tiers might be in the future, we will have to think about strengthening them so we can get through the winter months until the vaccine is available to everyone.”
Tier 2 was only working in some areas, but Tier 3 was reducing cases in the Northwest, he said.
She suggested that “if the lockdown is working, we will start to see the cases decrease over the next week.”
If not, then lifting the rules entirely would be at risk, he added.
And Matt Hancock told the nation, “It’s not about whether there is a tier system, but what measures are at each tier.”
But he said such discussions have yet to take place at No. 10.
His warning came as the average number of cases rose last week from 22,000 to more than 25,000.
Although the ZOE Covid symptom app and experts at Kings College London say the cases are already declining now.
Dr Hopkins, NHS Test and Trace chief medical advisor, added: “As we start to see cases decline, we can begin to make a judgment on what the right decisions are.”
It came as:
England’s lockdown system will be replaced with a modified version of the tier system in early December.
The ministers are ready to decide and outline plans to MPs next week, before a vote in the House of Commons.
No10 has refused to rule out that the levels are different than they were before.
The Sun revealed yesterday that regions of England could be placed in intermittent lockdowns for the next several months.
The tough new measures are part of a new Covid strategy to “hit the brakes” that is being talked about.
Previously, Level 3 was the strictest level of restrictions: pubs serving alcoholic beverages were closed.
But officials have been considering whether to add additional layers to it, possibly even a more severe Level 4 that could reflect the national lockdown England has at the moment.
Non-essential stores could be closed and people barred from all non-essential travel.
And Boris has yet to tell the nation if they will be able to spend Christmas with their families.
He has said that he is working on a plan to ensure that the country’s four nations can come together under one plan.
A source told The Sun that the rule of six could be replaced with a higher number so that extended families can reunite on December 25.
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