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Millions of people face tough new COVID restrictions as the government introduces a tiered system in England that for much of the country could be as strict as the national lockdown.
Boris Johnson is facing a potentially damaging rebellion by dozens of Conservative MPs who bitterly oppose their constituencies being subjected to the toughest Level 3 measures next week.
The government has given in to the demands of senior Conservative MPs for an impact assessment on the level system and will publish an analysis of its health, economic and social impacts.
Level 3 areas will undergo rapid testing, with military assistance
And in a move designed to win the support of hesitant MPs, the prime minister promises that the tier assignments Hancock announces will be reviewed on Wednesday, December 16.
This means that areas where the spread of the disease slows in the coming weeks could drop one level for a week before the Christmas restrictions are lifted on December 23.
The prime minister could also be hit by a furious backlash from top local government leaders, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham, if their cities are placed on Tier 3.
But to soften the blow, the government promises that areas at the top level will be able to receive quick results. COVID-19 tests, with the help of the Army, to help reduce infections, as well as cash grants.
Ministers from the government’s COVID Operations Committee held a meeting late at night to decide what levels all parts of England will be at, ahead of an announcement by Health Secretary Matt Hancock in the Commons.
Following the meeting, which was attended by Johnson, Hancock, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, and Treasury Minister John Glen, deputy to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Sky sources suggested that London is likely to be in Level 2.
Khan, speaking to Sky News about what level the capital would be at when Hancock makes his statement, said: “All roads lead to Level 2.”
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Is the level system practical?
According to Conservative MPs, there was also a strong hint from the Prime Minister that Liverpool, previously at Level 3, will be at Level 2 this time around, while Greater Manchester could be placed at Level 3.
Johnson told Conservative MPs in a Zoom call with the 1922 Conservative Backbenchers Committee that Liverpool’s massive tests meant they were doing “much better than Manchester.”
Earlier speaking at a press conference, Burnham said it was “more likely than not” that Greater Manchester was subject to Level 3 restrictions.
Prior to his statement, Hancock said, “Thanks to the hard work and sacrifice made by people across the country, we are able to break out of the national lockdown and adopt more specific local and tiered restrictions.”
“I know that for those of you facing Level 3 restrictions, this will be a particularly difficult time, but I want to assure you that we will be supporting your areas with massive community testing and additional funding.
“By following the rules together we can get out of these tough measures.”
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Virus ‘doesn’t know it’s Christmas,’ says PM
Hancock is expected to set the level at which each local authority in England will be listed, in line with the measures set out in the prime minister’s COVID-19 Winter Plan released Monday.
The levels have tightened since they were in effect from October 14 to November 5 and many more areas will be placed at the higher levels in an attempt to keep infection rates low.
The government says that decisions about the levels have been made by ministers based on the recommendations of government scientists and doctors, taking into account:
- Infection rates in all age groups and particularly among those over 60 years of age
- How quickly case rates increase or decrease
- The number of cases per 100,000 in the general population.
- Pressure on the NHS, including current and projected NHS capacity, including admissions, bed occupancy, and staff absences
- Local factors and exceptional circumstances, such as a local but contained outbreak
In addition to rapid tests, in a move meant to contain opposition from local government leaders, the government also promises additional cash for areas located at Level 2 and Level 3.
The Outbreak Management Containment Fund will be expanded so that it can provide monthly payments to local authorities facing higher restrictions until the end of the financial year, in recognition of the ongoing public health and outbreak management costs of addressing COVID -19.
For Tier 3 authorities this funding will amount to £ 4 per capita per month, and for Tier 2 authorities it will be £ 2 per capita per month.
Speaking to Sky News, Khan rejected calls by Conservative MPs in the capital’s suburbs for parts of London with low infection rates to be put at a lower level.
“We only have one Metropolitan Police service to enforce the law,” he said. “You cannot have different application rules for different parts of the municipality.
“We only have one Transport for London service in different parts of the district: buses, tubes, trams, the Overground.
“As disappointed as I am, we didn’t set the criteria for Level 1, as much as I’d like to, but it’s also pretty clear that we’re nowhere near Level 3.”
Earlier in his press conference, Burnham said: “We don’t know what level we will be at, that has not been communicated to us yet. I think it is fair to say that we are heading at some speed to Level 3 – Limit Level 2: given the figures .
“Level 3, in my opinion, is too punishing for hospitality and will be too harsh on city centers, especially as we go through Christmas and New Years.”
