People in Northeast England will not be able to meet others outside of their homes as of today – as Lancashire is also expected to be placed under tighter restrictions.
More than 10 million people across the UK are now in lockdown, after new restrictions in Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham began at midnight.
Residents in these areas are prohibited from mixing with others outside their homes or their bubbles, and places of food and drink are limited to serving only the table, and all places of entertainment and entertainment must close at 10 pm.
Other areas subject to stricter lockdowns include parts of Scotland, South Wales, northwest England, Yorkshire and the Midlands.
Dramatic new measures could also be announced at LancashireNorthwest England, Sky News understands.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected to release an announcement this morning banning mixing with various families in homes, private gardens, public parks, restaurants and beer gardens.
People will be urged to use public transportation only on essential trips – but the rules aren’t expected to include a complete ban on mixing with other families or a 10pm curfew for pubs and bars.
This will apply in the neighborhoods of Preston, Lancaster, Ware, Field, Corley, South Ripple, West Lancashire, Ripple Valley and Blackburn with Darwin, Burnley, Bendle, Hindburn and Rosendale.
However, two-thirds of Blackpool’s coastal resort will not face more stringent restrictions.
The province just witnessed the largest daily increase in new cases so far, registering another 250 infections on Thursday.
Meanwhile, there are also reports that Merseyside and Leeds may next be placed under similar restrictions.
Coronavirus cases have risen across the UK, with another 3,395 confirmed cases and 21 deaths recorded on Thursday.
Talking about the additional restrictions in the Northeast, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there were “infection rates”.
“We agree with the local councils that we must follow the data and work, and the data indicates that we must act now so that we can control the virus and keep people safe,” he said.
“And I know that the people of the Northeast will come together to overcome this virus, because we must defeat it.”
Newcastle is among the areas that bars must operate with curfews
According to Sky News data, the duration of two weeks Corona Virus Incidence rate per 100,000 in the seven local authority areas facing new restrictions are:
- Sunderland: 155.7
- South Tyneside: 155.1
- Gateshead: 139.7
- Newcastle 116.3.2007
- North Tyneside: 85
- Durham County: 70.2
- Northumberland: 47.1
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Health Minister Edward Argar told Sky News Thursday morning: “In the northeast, we are seeing a rise in infections. And that is exactly what we saw in the northwest.
“We are monitoring this rate. Where we need it, we intervene and take action.”
Argar, in northwest England, said the rise in infections was due to people not adhering to social distancing rules with different families coming in close proximity.
“Obviously, the night economy could fuel that when people go to the bar, people go out in the late evening.
“This is one of the ways in which this transmission could increase.”
