The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced the latest COVID restrictions – with Bristol and North Somerset dropping down from the highest Tier 3 to Tier 2 after an improvement in case numbers. However South Gloucestershire remains under the strictest measures.
B&NES stays at Tier 2.
The new tier allocations come into force on Saturday. The reviews of the tier system are being undertaken every two weeks, with the next review scheduled for 31st December.
South Gloucestershire Council today said: “This is obviously disappointing news but is required due to the considerable pressure still being placed on our health and social care system and the fact that our cases are now rising again.
“The health service has robust plans in place to manage demand and ensure that people continue to receive safe and effective care. As a council we are also increasing our work to prevent the spread, with the roll-out of enhanced local track and tracing to support the national programme.
“We need everyone to follow the rules to prevent these tough restrictions lasting even longer.”
Under Tier 3 there is no household mixing indoors and the rule of six applies in some outdoor spaces. All hospitality must remain closed except for takeaway or delivery. Indoor sport and exercise classes cannot take place.
The council added: “We are all looking forward to the time when we can safely ease the restrictions that are causing pressure on our lives and our businesses, but if we ease those rules too quickly, we raise the risk of having to go back into a more restrictive regime again.”
The MP for Kingswood Chris Skidmore said he was disappointed by announcement that keeps South Glos in Tier 3: “Along with Bristol, we share the same health ecosystem, hospitals and populations/local geography are closely entwined. It’s why South Glos joined Bristol in Tier 3.”
He said he was writing to Health Secretary Matt Hancock for an explanation.
The new tier allocations come into force on Saturday. The reviews of the tier system are being undertaken every two weeks, with the next review scheduled for 31st December.
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