The North East is reportedly facing new coronavirus restrictions including a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants and a ban on households mixing.
The new rules are expected to come into force after midnight on Friday following a dramatic rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the area.
Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes said ‘additional, temporary’ measures are being planned to prevent another full lockdown.
It is understood the measures will include a 10pm curfew on pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises. The Chronicle Live website reported that people will also be banned from socialising with anyone outside their household.
The restrictions will reportedly apply to Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, County Durham and Sunderland – which have all seen weekly case numbers rise.
Care home visits are expected to be restricted to essential visitors in these places, and people will be advised to avoid public transport at peak times except for essential journeys, and to avoid car-shares.
One Twitter user asked when the announcement would be made, adding that the ‘uncertainty creates lots of anxiety for people’.
He replied: ‘We are waiting confirmation from Government on the final version of the regulations; I am expecting an announcement by the Health Secretary at 11am tomorrow.’
Recent figures show Newcastle has recorded a sharp increase in its weekly rate, up from 51.2 infections per 100,000 to 64.1.
It comes after local measures in Greater Manchester and Birmingham were put in place in a bid to address rising rates of infection.
Merseyside is also thought to be on the brink of lockdown. Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said he expects new restrictions to be brought in after the region was added to the government’s watchlist.
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com