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Northern England leaders warned that further restrictions on the coronavirus would have a “devastating” effect on the country and the wider regional economy.
His comments come as Prime Minister Boris Johnson will make a statement to MPs on Monday amid expectations that a three-tier local lockdown system will be introduced across England.
The mayors ‘warning comes as doctors accused the government of “lowering its guard” and said that “inconsistent” messages since the national lockdown was lifted had influenced the virus’ resurgence.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said clearer and stronger measures are needed to halt the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, and released a list of recommendations that it says could reduce the level of infection in the nation and provide people the confidence they need to leave. Get out safely and boost the economy.
Doctors union chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “Infection has increased following the rapid relaxation of measures and with the Westminster government lowering its guard; in August, the government was encouraging people to travel, go to work and mix in restaurants and pubs. “
He added: “With COVID hospital admissions rising rapidly in parts of England, there is an opportunity for the Westminster government to put in stronger simple restrictions alongside the introduction of this … three-tiered approach.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is ready to announce a three-tier local lockdown system
In a joint letter to the chancellor and the secretaries of health and housing on Friday, mayors and councilors said another shutdown will result in “leveling out” the region.
They said: “We remain unconvinced that additional restrictions involving business closures would be the most effective way to combat the virus, especially when the health of our economy, people’s jobs and livelihoods are at stake.” .
“Therefore, we are concerned about rumors in the media that they could be pushed to Level 3 of a new system to be introduced, without any discussion or consultation, or without adequate economic measures in place to support affected individuals and businesses.
“Another blockade will have a devastating effect on our towns and urban centers and the regional economy in general. It will result in a leveling off of our region and undo the good work we have done over the past decade to improve the lot of our people.”
New measures could be implemented in North West England as early as Wednesday due to increased cases of COVID-19, Sky News understands.
Several possibilities were outlined during a telephone meeting between local leaders and Westminster figures, including the prime minister’s top strategic adviser, Sir Edward Lister, on Friday.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick was also on the call.
Sources at the meeting told Sky News that the government proposed a tip that would prevent people from entering and leaving the worst affected areas.
The sources also said the government plans to take the proposed measures to parliament on Monday for implementation on Wednesday.
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The three-tier system, known as local COVID alert levels, is expected to be medium, high, and very high.
Under a very high alert, pubs and bars would have to close, but not restaurants.
Sir Edward has said that certain local areas are “very likely” to face “more restrictions” due to a “growing incidence” of COVID-19.
In a letter to parliamentarians, he said the government would discuss “difficult decisions” with local leaders.
Sir Edward added that Johnson believes local leaders should “help shape the package in the areas of greatest concern.”
The expected measures in the north of England come as Fiona Lemmens, chair of the NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group, said the situation at the city’s Aintree and Royal hospitals is “very worrying”.
She continued: “All the indicators indicate that the situation is going to get worse in the next two to three weeks as our current high community transmission rates translate into hospital admissions.
“The age of affected patients is much older in Liverpool than anywhere else in the Northwest, so we can expect to see a growing demand for hospital beds and intensive care units.”
New restrictions will be introduced in North West Wales at 6pm on Saturday.
This follows a sharp increase in cases in Bangor, Prime Minister Mark Drakeford said.
The developments come as there are concerns that an expansion of the UK-wide Employment Support Scheme, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, will not go far enough.
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Workers in companies that are forced to close due to stricter closure measures will have two-thirds of their wages paid by the government.
Sunak said the policy “would provide a safety net for businesses” and was offering “the right support at the right time.”
Four mayors in the north said the expansion of the plan was a “beginning.”
But Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Jamie Driscoll, Mayor of North Tyne, Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region and Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, added: “At first glance, it doesn’t seem like they have gone far enough away to avoid real hardship, job losses and business bankruptcies this winter. “
They and other northern leaders will meet Saturday to discuss the idea “in more detail.”
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Mel Green, manager of The Black Bull in Otley, West Yorkshire, said that two-thirds of someone’s salary “is not going to be enough.”
The bar trade is one in which “everyone has a national minimum wage practically”, and a large number of staff “are already living day by day and the hours have already been reduced,” he said.
In the regular daily update, a further 13,864 coronavirus cases and a further 87 deaths were announced across the UK on Friday.
Five of the 22 European regions with the highest coronavirus infection rates are in the north of England, according to Sky News analysis.
And the UK’s coronavirus replication number (R) has dropped slightly to a high of 1.5, according to the latest government figures.
