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Pubs and restaurants could close in parts of England in a few days as the government prepares a tightening of coronavirus restrictions, it is reported.
Millions of people in the north could face tough new measures starting next week, amid fears that hospitals will be overwhelmed if steps are not taken to curb the rise in Covid-19 infections.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been in talks with local leaders in the Northwest who expect impending restrictions, according to The Times.
The newspaper claimed that the Treasury was drawing up a compensation package for companies forced to close as part of the crackdown.
However, they may not be ready in time for the new restrictions that could be introduced on Monday.
Downing Street and the Department of Health and Welfare declined to comment on the reports.
However, the move, if confirmed, would be another blow to the body for the struggling hotel industry in regions already reeling from the imposition of the controversial 10 p.m. curfew.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is finalizing a financial support package for the sector, the Financial Times reported, amid fears of a new wave of job losses.
It comes as Nicola Sturgeon announced new strict rules for central Scotland, which will see the area’s hotel sector largely shut down for 16 days.
Cases continue to rise across the UK, with confirmed infections rising by 14,162 on Wednesday and another 70 deaths recorded.
Downing Street has indicated that it is ready to implement further restrictions in England if necessary, saying: “We are seeing coronavirus cases increasing across the country, but they are increasing faster in the North East and North West and that is concerning.
“We will not hesitate to take further action in areas where cases and hospitalizations are increasing significantly to protect communities, protect the NHS and save lives.”
Coronavirus in numbers: UK death toll rises to 42,515
A new three-tier system for local closures could be introduced, offering more funding to support the worst-hit areas, according to the BBC.
Boris Johnson could set the categories, supposedly dubbed the “rule of three,” early next week.
Tier one would cover current social distancing measures and the so-called “rule of six,” stated The Sun.
Areas at level two would see a ban on home mixing, and areas at level three, the hardest hit, would see hospitality venues temporarily closed.
A memo seen by the BBC also suggests that local authorities located at levels two or three would receive additional funds to help support affected residents and businesses.
They would get £ 1 per capita if they were placed on tier two and £ 2 per capita for tier three, according to the corporation.
Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer clash over local confinements and curfew at 10 pm during PMQ
In England, Nottinghamshire appears to be the most recent area to face new restrictions after a sudden increase in infections.
The prospect of new measures comes amid growing unease over existing controls, even among Conservative MPs.
Early Wednesday, Johnson and Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer clashed over localized restrictions on the Prime Minister’s Questions.
Sir Keir questioned why constituencies, including PMs in West London, were spared from additional curbs, while northern seats with lower coronavirus levels were hit by tough measures.
“The prime minister cannot explain why an area goes into restrictions, he cannot explain what the different restrictions are and he cannot explain how the restrictions end,” said Sir Keir.
“This is getting ridiculous.”
But Johnson insisted that the government “will continue with our package to suppress the virus not only at the national level, but also at the local and regional levels.”
However, the recent spike in cases has prompted leaders in northern cities to warn that local restrictions are failing.
Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle city council leaders Judith Blake, Sir Richard Leese and Nick Forbes joined Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson in writing to the Health Secretary to say they are “extremely concerned” about the increase in cases.
“Existing restrictions don’t work, they confuse the public and some, like the 10 pm rule, are counterproductive,” Labor politicians wrote.
They called for additional powers to punish rule-breakers, for police, council and public health experts to develop new restrictions, and for a locally controlled test and trace system.
“We want to make it clear, however, that we do not support more economic blockades,” added the leaders.
