London ‘could go into Tier 3 within 2 weeks’ unless coronavirus infections drop
LONDON could go into a Tier 3 lockdown within two weeks unless coronavirus infections drop, it was reported last night.
The capital’s R rate has skyrocketed to 2.9, meaning people are on average passing the virus on to three other people, compared to 1.56 nationally.
Researchers from Imperial College London warned: “The epidemic is now increasing most rapidly in the Midlands and South.
“Patterns of growth rate and the age distribution of cases in the South now are similar to those observed in northern regions during the prior two rounds of this study,” they said.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s team are said to be expecting extra measures within weeks.
Sources close to City Hall said he believes it is “highly likely” that Tier Three restrictions will be brought to London in the “coming weeks”, the Mail reported.
But Government sources stressed no decisions are imminent and the latest data for the capital has yet to be crunched.
Earlier this month the city was moved from “medium” alert to “high” alert, with fresh measures rolled out to stop the spread of the virus.
It means Londoners can no longer mix inside with people who are not from their household.
And people should avoid using public transport when possible.
Sixteen areas will move into the ‘high risk’ Tier Two at midnight – including Oxford, Luton, East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, Derbyshire Dales, Derby and Staffordshire.
And West Yorkshire will move into Tier 3 from Monday, too – with Birmingham on the brink of following suit.
Tier 3 means pubs and bars which don’t serve food would have to shut.
And in Nottinghamshire, which has moved to Tier 3 today, there are even more curbs in place.
Beauty salons, tattoo parlours and nail bars have to shut down, and shops are unable to sell booze past 9pm.
The Sun revealed earlier this week how gloomy medics think all of England will need to be under Tier 3 restrictions by Christmas.
And it seems like most family gatherings would be cancelled if the current rules stay in place.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said yesterday the Government would not rule anything out – as scientists continued to demand extra action.
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Asked yesterday about the possibility of another national lockdown, she said: “Well I think at this stage of course we can rule nothing out because we are a Government that is focused on making sure that we stop the spread of this virus, and also we protect public health.
“So we have been using, and we are using and we will continue to use, every single means available to us to do exactly that.”
But Communities Sec Robert Jenrick said the Government would do everything in its power to avoid another shut down.