The coronavirus pandemic has plagued people’s lives for several months, but an end is now in sight with many biomedical companies revealing promising results from vaccines in development. Today the Oxford vaccine was shown to be up to 90 percent effective. But until these vaccines are rolled out across the nation, caution is advised.
Today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil a new blueprint for the UK’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
He is expected to reveal the new COVID winter plans outlining new restrictions in England in December, with a five-day break for Christmas.
The PM is due to address the House of Commons at 3.30pm today via video stream as he is still completing his 10 days of self-isolation.
A press conference is also likely to take place this evening.
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England is expected to return to the three-tier system on December 3, with more areas expected to be in tier 3.
The rules for tier 3 areas are as follows:
- Pubs and restaurants will be required to operate takeaway only when previously they were allowed to open if they provided substantial meals.
- Household mixing is banned indoors with the rule of six expected to continue in some public outdoor spaces.
- Places of worship will reopen, with people required to remain in their household bubbles if visiting.
- Schools and universities can remain open.
- Gyms will reopen, with outdoor and grassroots and children’s team sports permitted to continue.
- Cinemas will remain closed under new rules, but were permitted to remain open previously.
- Non-essential retail to open.
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Which areas are likely to be tier 3 after lockdown?
The current rate of coronavirus for the last seven days to November 22 across England is 251.1 per 100,000 people.
It is likely any areas significantly above this number will be considered for tier 3 classification after the lockdown ends.
The rates per 100,000 resident population give a fairer comparison of the number of cases in each area but they do not take account of the different rates of testing or differences in the age and sex of the local populations.
The following 15 areas have the highest rates per 100,000 population:
- City of Kingston upon Hull: 652.1 per 100,000 people
- Hartlepool: 544.5
- Dudley: 523.9
- Kirklees: 511.6
- Stoke-on-Trent: 510.6
- Bradford: 485.8
- Sandwell: 485.3
- Leicester: 477.4
- Rochdale: 472.5
- North East Lincolnshire: 471.3
- Oldham: 467.7
- North Lincolnshire: 458.5
- Blackburn with Darwen: 454.3
- City of Bristol: 450
- Redcar and Cleveland: 442.6.
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There is no magic number which sees areas put into tier 3 once they reach it.
For instance, Liverpool was classified as a tier 3 region in October when its rate was 661, but it has now fallen to 230.1.
Manchester became a tier 3 area when it hit 530 on October 23, but has now dropped to 323.4.
Leeds was placed in tier 3 on November 2 when the rate hit 424, but has now fallen to 374.1.
