Yahoo Movies How will the Government decide which tier to put each region into?
England will return to a tiered system of coronavirus restrictions when lockdown ends on December 2.
The Government will again carve the nation into Tiers 1, 2 and 3, but areas should not expect to be placed in the same category as before.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock will unveil the allocations on Thursday, with more towns and cities set to enter the toughest band of rules.
But how have ministers concluded which tier is right for each area? Here’s what we know so far about the decision-making process.
The Government has taken 5 key factors on board:
Number of new cases across all age groups
Number of new cases in the over 60s
The rate at which infections are rising or falling
Positivity rate: The number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken
Pressure on the NHS: This includes current and projected hospital patient numbers.
Downing Street has declined to give any further details on these indicators, nor whether ministers have set any specific thresholds.
What about economic factors?
Downing Street insists the Government is mindful of the impact restrictions will have on local economies, although financial strains are not listed among its key criteria.
When asked if economic factors would be taken into account, The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said on Tuesday: “Ministers have always been cognisant of the economic impact.”
How have local leaders reacted?
London mayor Sadiq Khan has said it would be the “right and sensible decision” for the capital to be placed in Tier 2, as he warned that Tier 3 would be a “hammer blow” to businesses.
Furthern north, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said it was “more likely than not” that his area would be made subject to the toughest restrictions.
He said although infection numbers in Greater Manchester were still high, the rates were falling.
He added: “If things continue in this direction at the rate at which we are seeing change in Greater Manchester, I would want to ask the Government for a serious review of Greater Manchester’s position at the first review of tiering arrangements which is scheduled to take place two weeks from now.”
Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram said he hoped the area – which was the first to enter the highest tier last time – would not return to Tier 3 restrictions.
He said: “The progress we’ve made since we were put in Tier 3 is remarkable – we’ve gone from having two areas with infection rates of about 750 per 100k to 180 across the city region.”
Meanwhile, Lancashire’s council leaders have submitted a proposal to the Government to divide the county into two different tiers when the lockdown ends.
A request has been made for Hyndburn, Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle and Preston to go into Tier 3 restrictions while Fylde, Wyre, Lancaster, Chorley, South Ribble, Ribble Valley and West Lancashire would go into Tier 2.
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