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Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees has warned that “every moment” that Bristol remains in the highest category of restrictions will cost lives and livelihoods.
He added that the move to Level 3 will only ‘further decimate the city’s hospitality and cost the council £ 2.8 million a month to support vulnerable businesses and individuals.
Bristol, and the surrounding areas of North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, were placed on Level 3, very high alert, by the government today.
While all essential and non-essential retail stores can be reopened, Level 3 places restrictions on the hospitality sector.
Mr. Rees said: “While we all want to get back to normal as quickly as possible, we must also reduce the rate of COVID-19 infection in the city.
“COVID-19 is devastating lives and livelihoods – people are getting very sick and businesses and workers are facing enormous financial challenges.
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“For every moment we are at Level 3, the hospitality industry will be further damaged, people will lose businesses they have built and jobs will be at stake.”
Rees added that people across the city needed to work together to eliminate the cases and see the city adopt less stringent restrictions.
He said, “We can all help move to a level with fewer restrictions if we work together and follow the lead.
(Image: Bristol City Council Live / YouTube)
“COVID-19 is transmitted from person to person, and we know that one of the main reasons for the recent increase in infection rates is that people go to other people’s homes when they shouldn’t.
“We all want to see friends and family, but for now it’s really important that we protect the ones we love by not visiting them.
“The sooner we do this, the sooner we can get back to normal.”
Decisions about levels are made by the government without negotiation and are based on the following factors:
Case detection rate: in all age groups and, in particular, in those over 60 years
How quickly case rates increase or decrease
Positivity in the general population
Pressure on the NHS, including current and projected capacity of the NHS
Local context and exceptional circumstances, such as a local but contained outbreak.
The number of people contracting COVID-19 in Bristol has risen sharply since September, and the city now has an infection rate of 390.2 new cases per 100,000 residents.
In the last seven days, of those tested, there were 1,808 positive results in the city.
Bristol Public Health Director Christina Gray said: “At all levels it is important to remember how COVID-19 is transmitted and to ensure that we do everything possible to prevent the spread of infection.
“So wear a face cover when needed, wash your hands regularly, and stay home if you’ve been told to isolate yourself.
“If you have symptoms, stay home and book a test.
“Last week we have seen a slight drop in infection rates across the city.
“However, we must not be complacent, we must still do everything we can to further reduce infections.
“People are getting seriously ill and we have seen a greater number of people needing hospital treatment.
“This, coupled with the usual winter pressures, is putting pressure on local NHS services. Please do everything you can to protect Bristol.”
Level 3 will go into effect at 00:01 on Wednesday, December 2.
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