UK lockdown: Three-tier lockdown system explained - where's next?
CORONAVIRUS cases are on the rise in the UK, prompting Health Secretary Matt Hancock to label this period a "perilous moment" in the fight against COVID-19. So what is the three-tier lockdown system being introduced in England this week?
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The UK lockdown was eased a few months ago to allow businesses such as pubs and restaurants to reopen. But in recent weeks the UK has seen an increase in the number of coronavirus cases recorded. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new three-tier lockdown system in England during a press conference on Monday, October 12.
As of Monday, October 12, 13,972 cases of coronavirus were recorded in the UK.
Along with coronavirus cases, hospital admissions are also on the rise.
To tackle rising coronavirus cases, the Government has now implemented a three-tier lockdown system.
Under the system, tier one areas (medium risk) will follow the national lockdown restrictions as usual - including the rule of six and 10pm curfews for hospitality businesses.
In tier two areas (high risk) additional restrictions will be put into place, such as bans on households meeting indoors.
Areas under the highest third tier (very high risk) will see hospitality businesses close, such as pubs and bars.
There will also be restrictions on travel and meeting other households indoors.
Mr Johnson said on Monday he believed the British public "have the resolve to beat this virus".
He said: "No one, least of all me, wants to impose these kinds of restrictions, erosions of our personal liberty, but I'm convinced as I've ever been that the British people have the resolve to beat this virus and that together we will do just that,"
Where is currently under additional restrictions?
The Liverpool city region is currently under a very high covid alert level.
Covid alert level high areas are as follows:
Cheshire
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Cheshire East
- Warrington
Greater Manchester
- Manchester
- Bolton
- Bury
- Stockport
- Tameside
- Trafford
- Wigan
- Salford
- Rochdale
- Oldham
Derbyshire
- High Peak ‒ the wards of:
- Tintwistle
- Padfield
- Dinting
- St John’s
- Old Glossop
- Whitfield
- Simmondley
- Gamesley
- Howard Town
- Hadfield South
- Hadfield North
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Lancashire
- Blackpool
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Burnley
- Chorley
- Fylde
- Hyndburn
- Lancaster
- Pendle
- Preston
- Ribble Valley
- Rossendale
- South Ribble
- West Lancashire
- Wyre
West Yorkshire
- Leeds
- Bradford
- Kirklees
- Calderdale
- Wakefield
South Yorkshire
- Barnsley
- Rotherham
- Doncaster
- Sheffield
Durham
- Durham
Northumberland
- Northumberland
Tyne and Wear
- Newcastle
- South Tyneside
- North Tyneside
- Gateshead
- Sunderland
Tees Valley
- Middlesbrough
- Redcar and Cleveland
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Darlington
- Hartlepool
West Midlands
- Birmingham
- Sandwell
- Solihull
- Wolverhampton
- Walsall
Leicestershire
- Leicester
- Oadby and Wigston
Nottinghamshire
- Ashfield
- Bassetlaw
- Broxtowe
- Gedling
- Mansfield
- Newark & Sherwood
- Nottingham City
- Rushcliffe
Where is next to be placed under local lockdown?
Only the Liverpool city area is currenty under tier three restrictions, but over the coming weeks further areas could be added if necessary.
Last week Mr Hancock said he was “very worried” about the spread of the virus in certain regions.
He said: "I am very worried about the growth in the number of cases, especially in the North West and the North East of England, parts of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and parts of Yorkshire.
"In parts of the country the situation is again becoming very serious.
"Hospitalisations in the North West are doubling approximately every fortnight. They have risen by 57 percent in just the last week alone.
"Unfortunately we're seeing hospitalisations in the over-60s rising sharply and the number of deaths from coronavirus also rising."
London could also face additional restrictions if cases continue to rise.