[ad_1]
The Northeast is ready to enforce new lockdown measures, including a 10 p.m. curfew imposed on bars and a ban on meeting with anyone outside their home, it was reported.
The new lockdown restrictions are said to take effect shortly after midnight on Friday, September 18, according to ChronicleLive.
This follows a dramatic increase in coronavirus cases across the region.
Speaking earlier this week, Newcastle City Council Leader Nick Forbes said: “There is universal concern from Council leaders across our region about the exponential increase in Covid cases over the past week.
“Unless we go through with this now, we face a bigger problem down the road that could end in a total lockdown.
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
“It is better to try to introduce measures that avoid that, although that may mean some additional restrictions in the coming weeks.
“We are working with the government on a plan on what they could mean and how we can implement those measures in the coming weeks to protect our communities and have to enter another lengthy and damaging lockdown.”
As ChronicleLive reports, a 10pm curfew will also be imposed at pubs, restaurants, and other licensed venues.
Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, County Durham and Sunderland are expected to be included.
Video not available
No official announcement has been made regarding the closure plans and nothing will be confirmed until the Department of Health and Social Care issues a statement.
ChronicleLive advises that the restrictions will include a ban on socializing with anyone outside of your home, whether in a private home or garden, in a public space like a park, or in a place like a pub or restaurant.
A household only includes the people you live with. Even close relatives count as a different household if they live on a different property.
Pubs and other licensed venues will remain open, but guests will only be able to socialize with people from their own homes and must close by 10 p.m.
Restrictions expected to be announced, but not yet confirmed, include:
- People will be told not to go on vacation with people from different households.
- Home care visits will be limited to essential visitors only
- Residents will be told to avoid public transportation, except for essential trips, and to avoid carpooling.
- Spectators will be warned not to attend sports facilities.
These are in addition to the “rule of six” in effect across the country, which allows people to socialize only in groups of six or fewer. The new Northeast rules will mean the rule of six still applies, but those six people must come from the same household.
It is unclear how the measures will be enforced. Last week, the government introduced limited restrictions in Birmingham, prohibiting people from socializing with people from other households in their homes or gardens, taxable with a £ 100 fine. It remains to be seen whether there will be fines in the Northeast.
Exceptions are likely to be made for people in “support bubbles.” A support bubble is a household with a single adult in the household (known as a single adult household) that joins another household of any size. They are effectively treated as one home.
The seven local authorities in the area have been pressuring the Health Department to allow them to introduce local restrictions, in order to control the spread of Covid-19 and save lives. At the moment, cases are increasing in the seven areas of the local authority.
Speaking earlier this week, Newcastle City Council Leader Nick Forbes said: “There is universal concern on the part of Council leaders across our region about the exponential increase in Covid cases over the past week.
As Boris Johnson briefly mentioned in today’s Prime Minister’s Questions, a new Lighthouse Lab facility could be based in Tyneside and bring a significant number of jobs to the region.
UK Lighthouse Laboratories were established to increase the number of coronavirus tests that can be performed every day to support the national fight against the pandemic.
[ad_2]
