This week the PM addressed the Commons to announce a three-tier Covid alert system that would see regions of the UK put on “medium”, “high” or “very high” alert. Boris Johnson spoke of the difficulties of achieving a balance between those who wanted another full national lockdown, and those who felt that the virus should be allowed to take its natural course. Both options, he said, would result in unfeasible human, social, and economic loss.
He also spoke of the difficulties of implementing different rules in different regions of the country. The new Covid alert system, he said, would present a standardised approach throughout the UK that conformed to three levels of restriction depending on how badly areas were affected by the virus.
The “medium” alert level will cover most of the country and will consist of the current national measures. Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, Sunderland and other areas in the north-east will be placed into the “high” alert level, which reflects the interventions in many local areas at the moment. Merseyside will be the first area to be placed in the “very high” category from Wednesday. This region had 600 cases per 100,000 people in the week ending 6th October compared to the UK average of 74. The three tiers indicate that the following rules should be followed:
MEDIUM
Follow the rule of 6 if meeting indoors or outdoors
Pubs and restaurants to close at 10pm
HIGH
No household mixing indoors
Rule of six will apply outdoors
VERY HIGH
No household mixing indoors or outdoors
Pubs and bars not serving meals will be closed
Guidance against travelling in and out of the area
Rule of six applies to parks and beaches
During a data briefing, NHS England medical director Stephen Powis said more people were now in hospital with Covid-19 than before restrictions were introduced in March. He confirmed Nightingale hospitals in Manchester, Sunderland and Harrogate were being prepared to take patients. The Government is creating a website allowing people to type in their postcode, which will tell them which tier their area is in – the NHS Covid-19 app can also be used to find out this information.
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