Further restrictions could be imposed in all parts of England if Covid-19 cases continue to rise
Lancashire is currently on ‘Very High Alert’ under Level 3 restrictions – along with Liverpool City area, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire
However, an add-on level could be introduced if the measures prove ineffective in mid-November, with reports suggesting that restaurants and non-essential businesses such as clothing stores may be forced to close.
Council and government officials are considering the next level if the current system has not made a difference by the middle of next month
According to iNews, discussions are underway on a possible plan B, which could see the implementation of a « Tier 3 plus » or a « Tier 4 »
The website reports that measures falling under Level 4 – which have not been officially announced or decided but are said to be under discussion – could include the closure of restaurants and non-essential stores such as clothing stores
Short-term local circuit breaker lockouts to bring the R-value of the transmission below 1 would also be considered, reports the MEN
According to iNews, government officials have told leaders in Level 3 regions that social contact needs to be reduced by 60% in order to bring the R number – the rate of spread of the virus – down from its current national level of 16 less than 1
The prime minister said the levels rising from zero to four would avoid a « one size fits all » approach to areas of the country with lower infection rates
Level four, the top tier, is closer to a full lockdown, Ms Sturgeon said, with non-essential stores forced to close and bans on indoor dating
According to official data, the UK has reported 174 more coronavirus deaths and 23,012 more cases in the last 24-hour period
The total number of infections in the country is 854,010, while the total number of deaths is 44,745
Level 4
World News – UK – Government examines level 4 local lockdowns that could affect Lancashire
