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Bristol has entered “Level 1 plus” of coronavirus lockdown measures, according to the city’s mayor.
Marvin Rees said Bristol board would take a series of additional actions amid “rising” rates of COVID-19 infections, although the government rejected its introduction of a “plus” system to the three existing levels of localized restrictions.
The city is currently at Level 1 of the government’s three-tier system, also known as the “medium” alert level.
Measures at levels 1, 2 and 3 of the UK blockade system
Announcing the city’s additional measures on Wednesday, Rees said in a statement: “Within this level, we are taking specific actions including the introduction of eight COVID marshals, deeper analytical work to identify the rising tides of cases and take more powers from our Test and Trace Service to prevent further spread of the virus and protect our communities.
“These shares are called Tier 1 plus.
“Any further action will be based on what we are seeing locally and through discussion with our local partners in the city and central government.”
Rees said city leaders had been in talks with the Department of Health and Social Care and local NHS officials in recent weeks.
The mayor’s apparent announcement of an additional tier to the three-tier system of government caused immediate confusion for Bristol residents on social media.
The Department of Health and Social Care emphasized that there are still only three tiers in the government system, even though the councils have the capacity to implement additional measures.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Assistance said: “There are three levels of local Covid alert that are enshrined in law and we are not considering the introduction of a ‘plus’ system.
“Bristol is currently at a medium level and local leaders have the authority to introduce some additional measures for their area and we welcome local efforts to break the chains of transmission.”
When he announced the new three-tier system earlier this month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “simplifying” local lockdown restrictions.
Darren Jones, the Bristol North West MP, tweeted: “Bristol will remain at level one but with an improved app, more Covid commissars and more local test and trace control (good!).
“Please continue to follow the rule of six, keep your distance and wash your hands.”
Earlier on Wednesday, it became known that the all of Nottinghamshire will enter Level 3 measures on Friday, the highest COVID restrictions, rather than just some parts of the county as initially planned.
