Transcripts For BBCNEWS Coronavirus 20201126

On a certain day, we do it. And then the goalposts are changed the following day. As 498 more deaths are reported in the uk, Coronavirus Infection rates in england are continuing to show signs of levelling off but the picture across the nations is mixed. Concerns about the impact of yesterdays Spending Review on some of the poorest households, as the chancellor defends his decision to freeze the pay of many Public Sector workers. Ive had to make some tough choices and what i couldnt do is justify an across the boa rd rise in Public Sector pay. Welcome to this bbc news special. Details of which tier of coronavirus restrictions will be imposed on the different regions of england when the National Measures are lifted next week have been announced by the health secretary. More than 23 Million People will be under the most severe restrictions tier 3 in areas including manchester, newcastle, leeds, kent and bristol. Most of the country will be in the middle tier 2 including london and liverpool. The 69 drop in infections seen in liverpool after the pilot of rapid lateral flow tests has been singled out by ministers as an example of how the virus can be beaten. Downing street now says mass testing will be available to all tier 3 areas. The isle of wight, cornwall and the isles of scilly will be the only areas of england in tier one. The health secretary, matt hancock, said there is no quick fix to the pandemic but the end is in sight. As england emerges from what the next week, across the country more shops will be open, you will be able to get a haircut and go for a swim. But there are fears for tiers. It was confronted each area of england will be placed in one of three tiers, and that most of the country will be in tier two or tier 3 those with the most restrictions. The current epidemiological evidence and clinical advice shows that we must make the tiers tougher than they were before, to protect the nhs through the winter and avert another National Lockdown. So weve looked at each of the tiers afresh and strengthened them, as the Prime Minister set out on monday. In a handful of areas in tier i, groups of six people can meet indoors, and pubs are allowed to open with last orders at 10pm and closing time at 11pm. Most of england will be in tier two, groups of six can meet outdoors, but not indoors unless part of a support bubble. Pubs can only open if they operate as restaurants, and alcohol can only be served with a substantial meal. In tier 3, with the highest level of restrictions, pubs and restaurants will be limited to takeaways and deliveries. Therell be no mixing of households except up to six people in wide open public spaces such as parks. Only cornwall, the isle of wight and isles of scilly are in tier one. Areas such as Greater Manchester, north east england, west and south yorkshire, much of the east midlands and englands second largest city, birmingham and surrounding areas, will be in tier three. Councillors and mps lobbied to keep lincolnshire and kent out of that tier, as only some local areas had high levels of infection, but they failed. London, like most of england, will be in tier two. And liverpool, which piloted mass rapid testing, has moved down from tier 3 before lockdown to tier two now. Were now expanding this Community Testing program even further to launch a major Community Testing programme, honing in on the areas with the greatest rate of infection. This program is open to all local authorities in tier 3 areas in the first instance, and offers help to get out of the toughest restrictions as fast as possible. Covid doesnt simply pose a health and an economic challenge for the Prime Minister, but a political one too. Mps get to vote on the new tier system in england next week, and some of borisjohnsons own mps are worried aboutjust how long the restrictions might last. If were going to have regular reviews, ie weekly, thats great and thats fine. But if were not, if were stuck in that tier for two or three weeks, i wonder whether the secretary of state would consider some kind of appeals process. There has been zero consultation between central government, Buckinghamshire Council and our local nhs. And labour called for more local consultation when restrictions are imposed. Is it really the position that the Prime Minister imposes from downing street restrictions on communities across the midlands and the north, restrictions that will have a huge impact on the livelihoods of families and Small Businesses . We know the current lockdown in england will end in tiers, but its still not clear, even with the prospect of a vaccine, when the new restrictions will be lifted. Iain watson, bbc news. Our political correpsondent chris mason is at westminster. Chris, chris mason is at westminster. With so much of thl chris, with so much of the country in the top two tiers and many in tier 3, many businesses in tier 3, there is something of a howl of pain from the Hospitality Industry and from the Hospitality Industry and from tory mps . Good afternoon. This is absolutely a story about numbers, because whilst its tempting to talk about a return to a regional tiered approach in england, how it will feel for millions of people will be vastly different from how it felt a few weeks ago with the implementation of the National Restrictions in england. If we look at some of the statistics, before the National Lockdown we are currently in in england, 23. 5 Million People lived under tieri restrictions. It will be just 700,000 next wednesday. If you contrast that with tier 3, the highest level of restrictions, it was 8. 5 million under the previous way in which the different tiers are classified. Under the new system, it will be 23 million. So clearly it has huge ramifications for sow, so many people and we are seeing that in the political reaction to what has come. The governments whole argument and rationale for a regionalised approach, is that geography matters when it comes to mapping the pandemic and mapping the likelihood you are to come into contact with someone who has the virus. But clearly, someone he was a sceptic about where the relatively arbitrary lines have been drawn on the map can make the same point that geography matters at a localised level and why is all of kents, all of lincolnshire put into the highest category when plenty will point to the huge geographical variations within those relatively large counties. That is the argument that has already begun and the government is promising more data and an Impact Assessment at the beginning of next week, ahead of a vote expected next tuesday. But we are getting the sense from a good number of conservative mps, they are not convinced about what the government is planning. And that is why in the accompanying documentation you can read on the governments website, they have set out in quite some detail of a specific case, paragraph by paragraph, looking at each region to try and explain and offer an understanding as to how they have come to the conclusions. So geography matters, but many are pointing out that local consultation doesnt, because none of the local leaders have been consulted about this . That has prompted real frustration. You saw in the previous iteration of this tiering system, the argument that raged between andy burnham, the labour mayor of manchester and the government over support for in certain areas under restrictions. Andy burnham has made the argument today he feels there isnt adequate support for a Hospitality Industry in particular thatis Hospitality Industry in particular that is already on its knees. We have seen similar arguments made elsewhere in the country, too. When you heat that concern on top of the view articulated by many locally, that they have not been consulted, particularly at a time, because of devolution, not just around particularly at a time, because of devolution, notjust around the uk to the uk nations, but around england to its city and its city regions, you have figures like andy burnham in Greater Manchester and others elsewhere who have a platform to make their argument and can do so pretty loudly. I think we will see plenty of that again, particularly if there isnt a further movement in a couple of weeks when the current tiers are reviewed, which perhaps sees some of those who will soon be in tier3, sees some of those who will soon be in tier 3, moved down to tier 2, particularly in those sectors of the economy for whom the countdown to christmas is so vital as far as their overall annual, Economic Performance is concerned. These may beissues performance is concerned. These may be issues raised with the Prime Minister at the downing street briefing which is taking place in about half an hour. We will talk to you again nearer the time, but thank you again nearer the time, but thank you so much, chris mason. One area that has made the leap from tier ito tier 3 is kent. 0ur correspondent Helena Wilkinson is in faversham and says there is some frustration across the county. We heard a bit more from the government about the rationale behind why kent is going to be, as a whole, moving into tier 3. Behind why kent is going to be, as a whole, moving into tier3. 0ne behind why kent is going to be, as a whole, moving into tier 3. One of the reasons is the case rates continue to rise with large case rates in almost all areas in the last seven days and also some of the highest rates in the country are currently seen in kent. We are in the district of swale here. If you look at the latest data, it shows as it is the area with the highest infection rates at the moment in england. There was an emergency meeting earlier this week with various leaders trying to establish exactly why infection rates are so high in this area. One reason perhaps is some people work in manufacturing and that makes it difficult for them to be able to work from home. But the leader of Swale Borough Council also pointed the finger at some people and their behaviour, saying that some people we re behaviour, saying that some people were disregarding the rules. And there is a real urge from kent cou nty there is a real urge from Kent County Council as well, who are pleading with people to stick to those rules. So from next week, the whole county under tier 3 but i think also, there is a sense of frustration because it is a very big area, kent and there are areas within it which have low infection rates, or below average infection rates, or below average infection rate so there are people in those areas he was saying, why do we have to be put under tier 3 when the rates where we live are not so bad. Soi rates where we live are not so bad. So i think there is definitely frustration in areas across kent and a lot of adjusting for people in the county, because, as i say, they were under tieri before county, because, as i say, they were under tier i before the county, because, as i say, they were under tieri before the second lockdown and they will have to get used to being under tier 3 from next week. That was Helena Wilkinson speaking earlier to jane hill. Todays announcement on tiers applies to england only so lets get more now on the situation across the uk. In a moment well speak to Hywel Griffith whos in cardiff and emma vardy in stormont. But first james shaw is in glasgow. The situation in scotland at the moment in west Central Scotland is that there is quite a strict lockdown, very similar in fact to the National Lockdown in england. But this only affects ii Council Areas in west Central Scotland. And other parts of the nation are under a much looser regime. But in the west, non essential shops, a much looser regime. But in the west, non essentialshops, gyms, sports centres, hair and beauty salons and indoor Entertainment Venues are all closed, schools are open. That situation is not going to change until the 11th of december, so change until the 11th of december, so really, nine days after england comes out of lockdown, this particular part of scotland will remain in lockdown. Nicola sturgeon, the first minister, has been talking about specific christmas arrangements that apply to scotland and what she said was, eight people from three households would be allowed to socialise over those five days of christmas indoors. Children under 12 will not count towards that total. So in theory, an unlimited number of children from three households. But the emphasis the first minister placed on all of these changes was one of caution. She said people should not socialise a christmas if they didnt feel they had to. They would be safer at home. There was that risk, she stressed, that this limited relaxation could lead to the virus spreading more than otherwise it would do. Wales came out of its lockdown just over a fortnight ago. There are no regional, localised lockdown is either, so for the vast majority of businesses, they have been open, the bars and pubs and shops have all been busy, particularly at weekends. Initially the impact of the firebreak was shown in a sharp decline in both coronavirus case rates and positivity rates. That was enjoyed for almost two weeks. However, in the last couple of days that success is petering out with number stalling and starting to rise again in some parts, particularly south wales. So there is mounting concern from the welsh government. The first minister has been dropping some heavy hints that he thinks between now and christmas further restrictions may be needed. If not another full on firebreak, the potentially changes for the hospitality sector, may be using some restrictions we have seen either in tier3 some restrictions we have seen either in tier 3 in england or the third level in scotland. Potentially closing pubs or stopping alcohol service, only having alcohol with a meal. We know those types of issues have been subject to cabinet discussions today. We expect to hear from the minister tomorrow, may be that there is a reprieve orjust a warning to people. So no tiers in wales but plenty of stress and anxiety, particularly in the hospitality sector. Northern ireland from tomorrow evening is about to go back into a two week Circuit Breaker, all nonessential retailers will be closed for two weeks but schools are staying open this time round. Ministers at stormont are meeting to discuss how best to promote the christmas rules. In Northern Ireland an extra day allowed to acknowledge the fact people may have to travel further from Northern Ireland to get back to see family whether that is in Great Britain or the republic of ireland, so britain or the republic of ireland, so people are asked to meet family between the 23rd and the 27th. There isa between the 23rd and the 27th. There is a recognition they need to get people to trust the rules and comply with them so they are also discussing here how best to get the Public Confidence and to bring the Public Confidence and to bring the public along with them. Also discussion today about vaccinations. A programme to roll that out is being discussed and a task force is being discussed and a task force is being set up to do that. 600 volunteers have come forward to be vaccinated in Northern Ireland. The numberof vaccinated in Northern Ireland. The number of new cases of coronavirus has been coming down but we are told there are still five hospitals here operating above bed capacity, and really the aim with the imminent two week Circuit Breaker is to try to get infection rates as low as possible in the run up to christmas. Thanks very much indeed. Weve got some figures to show you to illustrate how many more people will be living in the higher tiers in england than they were before the current National Lockdown. So if we start with tier i, you can see that before englands National Lockdown, more than 23 Million People were in the lowest set of restrictions. But after lockdown, from the 2nd december, that will drop very significantly to onlyjust over 700,000. If we look at tier 2, before lockdown around 2a Million People were in tier 2. That will rise to around 32 Million People next week. And then tier 3, eight Million People before the lockdown. Now there will be 23 million under the strictest measures. So quite a stark picture there of the trend towards the harsher restrictions. Alex norris is a Shadow Public Health minister and labour mp for nottingham north, which is in tier 3. Hejoins me now. Good afternoon. Just talking generally first of all about the National Restrictions in england. What is your response to them . Do you support them . We understood that coming out of lockdown we were just going to go back to a world with no restrictions so we back to a world with no restrictions so we support the principle of restrictions at this time. We only heard them this afternoon so we are looking at these in specific to see if they will have the support of business, whether they will be supportive enough of business and will make the difference of Public Health too so we have until monday to make that decision and we are looking very closely at the minute. We know what the economic package is to support business. 0ne we know what the economic package is to support business. One of the main issues today has been of hospitality, and particularly hospitality, and particularly Hospitality Business owners into tier 3 where they will only be able to provide a takeaway. Do you support that move by the government to make sure that hospitality is really almost entirely closed . We knew that in the highest tiers because of the risk hospitality poses, we knew hospitality would be likely to be closed. There is a significant conversation as you can imagine, allmps are significant conversation as you can imagine, all mps are engaged at the moment as to which areas should be in the higher tier. This is such an important time for the Hospitality Industry, we need to have enhanced support for them to recognise this will be a tough period of time for them. We will be using the coming days to press very hard to make sure they do better. Your own constituency, nottingham north, is in tier 3. What do you think of that . I have been trying to avoid the situation where a National Politician comes on and says i think there should be restrictions, just not in my area. We have been at the higher end of the incidence rate in recent weeks, we are now below average so we are upset recent weeks, we are now below average so we are upset locally that we havent been able to get into tier 2. Having met with ministers they say our infection rate is too high among the over 60s. Each of me and my colleagues across the house will be looking at that closely. The point i make today is that if you wa nt to point i make today is that if you want to put us into tier 3 then we accept that, however you have to support our businesses because they are support our businesses because they a re really support our businesses because they are really struggling. The detail on that was very thin indeed. Thats interesting because there have been some mps in kent arguing that the restrictions should not be on a countywide basis, they should be more regionalised. I think they should reflect natural geography. In nottingham we are a tightly bound city so actually whats going on in nottingham city is paramount to ink, but the surrounding suburbs too, so i think the government have tried to do that. In the beginning when we we re do that. In the beginning when we were talking about restrictions prior to the second lockdown, they werent doing a very thoughtfuljob of that. There are still anomalies that will need ironing out in the coming days, but natural human geography is the way to think of these things. Very good to talk to you. Alex norris, the Shadow Public Health minister. Thank you. We were speaking there about hospitality. So what does the reinstating of the tier system mean for businesses across england . Theo leggett reports. The end of the lockdown means many businesses will be able to take down the shutters and get back to work, but severe restrictions will remain and pubs are among the worst affected. Under the new rules, pubs in tier 2 areas so across much of the country will only be allowed to open if they are also acting as restaurants, and theyre only allowed to serve alcohol if its accompanied by a substantial meal. Something like a pasty and chips. Pub chains and breweries are furious. They say theyre being unfairly singled out. The industry claims the new restrictions will leave 20,000 pubs unable to open, either because theyre not allowed to or because they cant make money. Its claimed that would cut sales by £1 billion in december alone, and leave a quarter of a million staff unable to work. The government is being urged to provide grants for struggling pubs of up to £12,000 per month. The next four months for the sector, particularly as were now going to be forced to operate under these new tiers, is absolutely critical. And without the support, were going to need sector specific, many of the companies, pubs and local restaurants, wont come through this period. Considering we now have a vaccine, we know what the future looks like in the long term, its vital that government provide this financial bridge to the sector. In tier 3 areas, such as Greater Manchester, pubs will have to shut altogether along with whole swathes of other Entertainment Venues. Its another hammer blow to the night time economy. Weve all agreed that this government, it feels like they have been playing a game of carrot and stick with us. We do above and beyond what theyre asking us to do. They ask us to do this on a certain day, we do it, and then the goalposts change the following day. It doesnt feel right. The changes do at least mean that some businesses, such as nonessential shops, can reopen whichever tier they are in, but few are celebrating. I think for many businesses moving from National Lockdown to a tiered system will feel like a halfway house. It is good news for some, including retailers who can take advantage of the festive trading period, but for others such as hospitality, it will feel like theyre stuck in a deep freeze. Last orders the prospect of a vaccine being developed does at least give Hospitality Businesses hope that life will one day get back to normal, but they insist that help is needed now or many of them will be ringing last orders for the final time. Theo leggett, bbc news. Lets speak now to kate nicholls, chief executive of uk hospitality. A trade association which represents the interests of the uks hospitality sector. Good afternoon to you. I think i can anticipate what you are about to say. I imagine you are finding the tier system quite difficult. Its absolutely catastrophic for the Hospitality Industry. We have over 90 of our premises that are in the top two tiers, and in both of the tiers they are not viable. In tier 2, 87 of our businesses are not viable and face closure, and face being insolvent. And in tier 3 youve got 100 that are not able to trade, not viable, and without Additional Support in both of those tiers we are undoubtedly going to see many of the countrys pubs, bars and see many of the countrys pubs, bars a nd restau ra nts see many of the countrys pubs, bars and restaurants closed for good and and restaurants closed for good and a millionjobs at and restaurants closed for good and a million jobs at risk. When you say they are not viable, that is because they are not viable, that is because they cannot for example change to a ta keaway system . They cannot for example change to a takeaway system . Yes, even with takeaway, many cannot do takeaway at the moment, they are not set up that way. But even so you are looking at eight to 10 of your normal sales which is not sustainable in the longer term and doesnt cover the cost of remaining closed and having to bear the costs of the rent, of keeping that premises and business going. So if they are in that situation for any length of time with no revenue coming in, all of those costs to bear, it costs the industry have a month to remain closed, they will eventually run out of cash and have to go into administration so we will see widespread business failures. Its already starting unless we can get help and support to these businesses, that will accelerate over the next two months. And yet the chancellor has extended the furlough scheme until the end of march, there is the additional payment to businesses if they keep furloughed employees on, but you think there needs to be further support on top of that . The furlough scheme is very generous but it only supportsjobs where scheme is very generous but it only supports jobs where the business remains viable. If we are pushing these businesses, as we are, with these businesses, as we are, with the restrictions imposed upon them into the realms of being insolvent, unviable, then jobs will have to go so unviable, then jobs will have to go so the furlough payment wont be received. Unfortunately at the same time the chancellor took away the Job Retention bonus so the businesses who have stood behind theirmps, businesses who have stood behind their mps, not made them redundant, born the costs, have done what the chancellor asked them to do, now have a £2 billion black hole in their accounts that they will not have coming in. It was income they we re have coming in. It was income they were expecting to get them through this crisis so we have the worst possible situation. Its a perfect storm where you have no revenue, protracted periods of closure, mounting costs and the lifelines that were there taken away from you. £3000 per month as compensation for losing your trade in decemberjust isnt going to cover the costs for the sector of remaining closed. You have taken out £ii the sector of remaining closed. You have taken out £11 billion of sales and 25 of our profits are generated in december alone, so it is that lack of income that gets us through the next few months that will mean so the next few months that will mean so many businesses go to the wall u nless we so many businesses go to the wall unless we get further support. When one asks about the hospitality sector particularly, people point out that any setting where there is alcohol can mean that people lose their inhibitions or relax their guard when it comes to remaining covid secure guard when it comes to remaining covid secu re and thats guard when it comes to remaining covid secure and thats why hospitality has taken such a hit. We did put in place injuly the most rigorous covid secure did put in place injuly the most rigorous covid secu re protocol did put in place injuly the most rigorous covid secure protocol is in the world to make sure we could manage and supervise social distancing within our premises. Hospitality venues are about so much more than alcohol, everybody is seated, Table Service only, there is space between the people and the tables, staff and customers are all masked. We have hand sanitisation, and even the sage scientists themselves say that if you are going to socialise the safest place to do it is in one of our venues, so we have done everything asked, investing money in keeping people safe. There are controls, we understand that, but if you impose such severe trading restrictions that 89 of premises are not viable, you need to provide sector specific support to support businesses through that. Good to talk to you. Kate nichols from uk hospitality. Thank you. Our health correspondent, nick triggle is here. Just run through the latest coronavirus figures. Yes, there are positive signs. A reported 17,555 new cases confirmed. If we look at the average over the last week, it is down by a quarterfrom the average over the last week, it is down by a quarter from the average to the previous week, so it seems that lockdown has started to bring down those infections. Weve also had confirmation from the government Surveillance Programme today run by the office for National Statistics that randomly samples the population so it doesntjust rely on people coming forward for test and it shows infection rate stabilising and perhaps also too coming down. There were 11131; new admissions to hospital. Just after lockdown we were seeing close to 2000 admissions per day in the uk so again that is stabilised and may be coming down. Deaths sadly are still rising. 498 new deaths reported. But they are people who were infected three orfour they are people who were infected three or four weeks they are people who were infected three orfour weeks ago, they are people who were infected three or four weeks ago, and we know if the infections are coming down and hospital cases are coming down, we will soon see the numbers of deaths coming down. The impact of the lockdown and restrictions seen elsewhere in the uk are it seems having an impact. What sort of impact can we expect the new tier system that starts in england next week, what impact can that have . The government have gone in cautiously. They have gone in tough, we have been talking about the large numbers of areas in tier 2 and three and only three areas in tier 1. That contrasts sharply with the picture before lockdown. Research has been done into how it was working before lockdown. One of the criticisms was the government was too slow to move areas up to higher tiers so the infection was getting out of control before the system could work. All we are seeing is the government putting places in the top two tiers and they have been beefed up, particularly when it comes to hospitality and restrictions on hospitality, as we have been hearing. I think the hope thenis have been hearing. I think the hope then is that as winter progresses, it will keep driving down infections and we will then be able to move areas down tiers. Im going to stop you because the press briefing is about to start. Thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. We now have reason to hope that by st spring, Community Testing and vaccines will combine to end this era of restrictions. But you get there, we must first navigate a hard winter when the burden on our nhs is heaviest and the cold weather favours the virus. The data already suggests National Measures in england have slowed and in some places reversed the growth of new cases and as more data comes in, we hope and expect to see those trends continue. Together, we have prevented our nhs from being overwhelmed. But those dangers have not gone away. If we ease off now, we risk losing control of this virus all over again, casting aside our hard won gains and forcing us back into a new year National Lockdown with all the damage that would mean. The tough measures in our winter plan of the best way to avoid this outcome. All our friends around the world a re outcome. All our friends around the world are grappling with the same question of how to keep people safe without retreating into a winter of hibernation. In italy, there is a nightly curfew. In germany, hospitality will remain closed until the 20th of december. In france, until the 20th of january. Across the whole of the uk, measures remain in place to control the virus. Under our winter plan, england will return toa our winter plan, england will return to a tiered system of local restrictions. Our decisions on which areas enter which tier are based on Public Health advice according to five indicators. Cases across all ages, especially the over 60s, the rate by which cases are rising or falling, the percentage of those tested in the local population who have covid and the pressure on the nhs. We are publishing data packs setting of the reasons behind the decisions in each area. To find out how this affects you, log on to the governments website where all the information is available. I am sorry to confirm that from wednesday most of england will be in the top two tiers with the toughest measures and i know this will bring a great deal of heartache and frustration, especially for our vital hospitality sector, are pubs, restaurants, hotels, in so many ways, the soul of our communities and which continue to bear a disproportionate share of the burden. I really wish it were otherwise, but if we are going to keep schools open, as we must, then our options in bearing down on the disease are necessarily limited. What we will do is continue taking every possible step to protectjobs and livelihoods across the uk. These are tiers strike a balance. They are sufficient to continue driving the virus downwards, but it is important to recognise they are less intrusive than the current National Measures. In all tiers, shops, gyms, the leisure sector, hairdressers, other forms of personal care, places of worship will reopen. You will no longer be instructed to stay at home. Though you should continue to work from home if you can. The rule of six who will once again apply in public outdoor spaces and organise outdoor sport can begin again. But there is no doubt the restrictions in all tiers are tough and i am sorry about that. While the data is beginning to improve, the virus is still prevalent and the faster we drive it down, the faster we can lift restrictions. And that is exactly what these new tiers are designed to achieve. While the previous tiers slowed the spread of the virus, they were never quite enough to cut the reproduction rate of the disease down below one and keep it there. So areas did not escape whatever level they were placed in. Our new approach is to reduce, designed to reduce below one, opening a path for areas to move down the scale as soon as the situation improves. And crucially, we now have the means to accelerate that moment of a skate with rapid Community Testing, allowing anyone carrying the disease, including those without symptoms, to isolate and thereby reducing the r. The truth is, at least one in three people with covid have no symptoms at all and may be spreading the disease without even knowing that theyve got it. The only way to identify them and protect everyone is through mass testing and liverpool shows what can be achieved. In liverpool, in the space of two and a half weeks, over 240,000 of two and a half weeks, over 240 , 000 tests of two and a half weeks, over 240,000 tests have been conducted. And together with the effect of the National Restrictions, this has helped to reduce the number of cases in Liverpool City Region by more than two thirds. So having previously been in tier 3, Liverpool City Region and warrington it will now be in tier 2. This is a Success Story which we want other parts of the country to replicate. So we will work with local government, Public Health leaders and our fantastic armed forces to offer Community Testing to tier 3 areas as quickly as possible, opening the way for them to follow liverpools example. Testing on this scale is untried, but in due course, if it works, where people test negative it may also be possible forfamilies where people test negative it may also be possible for families and communities to be released from certain restrictions even if their home area stays in tier 3. The allocation of tiers will be reviewed every 14 days, starting on the 16th of december. So, your tier is not your destiny, every area has the means of escape and i have no doubt we can get through this winter, suppress the virus until vaccines come to our aid and then reclaim our lives and all the things that we love. I am lives and all the things that we love. Iam now lives and all the things that we love. I am now going to ask patrick to go through some of the slides and then we will go to chris. Thank you very much, Prime Minister. This is the first slide showing the estimated number of people testing positive in england, so this is from the office for National Statisticss survey. It runs from august through to november. What you can see is the number of cases, and they are shown in hundreds of thousands, started to increase in september, the end of august and september. You will see a bigger increase as we go into october, a sharper rise in the number of cases. The first bar shows when tiers were introduced, and as you can see after the first set of tiers were introduced, initially the rate of increase in the number of cases continued but then it started to come down a little bit. So the rate of increase came down. The reason for this is that in tier1 we saw cases continue to increase and tier1 really saw cases continue to increase and tier 1 really didnt saw cases continue to increase and tier1 really didnt have an effect to slow the rate of increase. Tier 2 started to hold the race of increase, so we started to see in some places you could hold it back, but it certainly wasnt turning it down. In tier 3, those were the areas with the most cases, the tier 3 restrictions really started to hold it back and in some cases lead toa hold it back and in some cases lead to a decrease in the number of cases. What you can see over that period the tiers were in place, is that overall there was a clear slowing of the rate of increase, but it hadnt turned the whole thing into going into a negative situation and shrinking. The second bar shows when the National Restrictions were introduced on the 5th of november and here you can see that as the National Restrictions start to work, not only have we got a flattening, the numbers are not going up, but they look as though they are beginning to come down and we that expect that to continue. So the latest data suggests one in 85 people have the disease, so it is still a very high number of people we have got, so thats why we need not just to we have got, so thats why we need notjust to hold it flat, but try we have got, so thats why we need not just to hold it flat, but try to reduce it. But the overall effect of the National Restrictions has been to stop this and potentially now lead to a decrease. We would expect to see that decrease over the next few weeks. In cases, it has turned the corner by the look of the data we have now. Next slide please. If we have now. Next slide please. If we look at hospitalisations in this graph shows the first peak back in march, the number of people in hospital. This is in thousands, and that was above 20,000 people in hospital at the peak. Then you can see the second peak we are in now and you can see there is about 15,000 or so people in hospital with covid now. There has been an increase in the number of hospitalisations that have followed the increase in the number of infections. Again, the two bars show when the tiers were introduced on the 12th of october and when the National Restrictions came in on the 5th of november. And what you can see after the National Restrictions came in, that there is a slowing of the rate of hospitalisations and this looks as though this has now flattened off, still at a high level, we need to see that start to come down, but you can see it is flattening, no longer going up. Next slide please. Unfortunately, as we know, as we get infections and hospitalisations, we will see some people dying from this disease. Again, this show is the first peak backin again, this show is the first peak back in march. And then coming right down over the summer and the increase again as we come into the second wave of the infection. What you see again is when the october tiers were introduced we still saw an increase in deaths and after the National Lockdown measures were introduced, that begins to slow a little bit, but i would expect to see that continue to carry on u nfortu nately, see that continue to carry on unfortunately, at a higher level for a while because there is a lag between infections, hospitalisations and then unfortunately those people who succumb to this disease. We would expect to see this start flattening off over the next few weeks and then again hopefully decreasing as the infections and hospitalisations come down. The message is, the tiers worked in terms of slowing, but did not work in terms of flattening and reversing it. The National Lockdown looks as though it has flattened it, sending it downwards. It is important we do bring it down because numbers remain high. I bring it down because numbers remain high. I will hand over to chris. Thank you. Numberten high. I will hand over to chris. Thank you. Number ten produced an animation which shows how, over time, this has got further and further into the country and concentrated in particular areas, the darker the colour of the more covid there is and will then pause on the last moment. And this is where we are at the moment. As you can see, things were beginning to lighten in some of the areas all around the country, but there remain some areas, quite a number of areas with very, very high rates indeed. Many of them coming down, not absolutely all of them, and if we can go on to the next slide, the final slide, please. What are you then have is a process of looking at all the data, and these other things the Prime Minister was talking about in his speech, looking at the of people in all ages. Then we take a look at the second, a second look at the rates in people over 60 because this is the group that are most likely to translate into people going into hospital, into the nhs and who die. We also have to look at the rate at which things are changing. For example, in many areas in the north of england now, the rates are very high but are beginning to fall, or are falling consistently. But there are some areas, for example in parts of kent, whether rates are still going up. We look at the positivity rate, what proportion of people tested positive, because that is imported in case we are not testing enough. And then we also look at what the pressure is on the nhs in each of the different areas. So how much problems there are in hospitals, are people having to cancel routine operations or even considering having to cancel more urgent care. These are the things we are taking into account technically, and getting advice from local Public Health experts from around the country. Then that is what goes into making the decisions on the tiers which ministers make the final decisions on. Just to reiterate the point that patrick made at the beginning, tier1 which is very similarto beginning, tier1 which is very similar to the previous tier1 slowed things down but did not stop the rise anywhere so the reason why tier1 at this time of year with the current measures we have before we have any vaccines is relatively limited is almost certainly anywhere that goes into tier1 will rise. The only places that are there are places with very low rates at the moment. Tier 2 looks as if it is Strong Enough to hold the line, so stop things rising, but not reliably to pull things down. Tier 3 we think based on previous experience is Strong Enough to pull things down from a higher peak. The two situations in particular, the three situations in particular, the three situations is if there is a lot of virus around it needs to come down, if the nhs locally is under a lot of pressure or if rates are rising, and these are the things that feed into these are the things that feed into the decisions ministers finally take. Thank you very much, patrick. Lets go to questions from the public. Getting from warwick. Will the government consider allowing schools to shift to remote forms of learning in the final week of this half term to prevent staff and families of School Age Children from running that risk of a bubble closure which would consequently lead to those individuals needing to self isolate over the Christmas Period and therefore not see friends and family . Well, thanks very much. We wa nt and family . Well, thanks very much. We want to keep pupils and young people in school as much as we possibly can. Obviously where it is possible to learn remotely, that can bea possible to learn remotely, that can be a good thing and we increase the supply of laptops, i think around 200,000 laptops we have supplied to schools, but on the whole we want to see pupils and kids in school to get the benefit of learning. This is vital for social justice, the benefit of learning. This is vital for socialjustice, we also wa nt to vital for socialjustice, we also want to see exams going ahead because it is also very important that young people should get the credentials and qualifications they need. So thats why we are taking these tough decisions. Alas it means bearing down on the virus across lots of other bits of society, but schools really are a priority. Anything you want to add on schools . Thank you. Richard from lancaster asks. I think that is probably one for you, patrick and chris. So the vaccines are really showing very good efficacy and it tells us we are going to end up with lots of vaccine options across the world which is incredibly important and a very exciting development. Viruses do mutate as they replicate. This virus doesnt mutate as often as for example doesnt mutate as often as for exa m ple flu doesnt mutate as often as for example flu virus but it does mutate. None of the mutations so far had done anything which changes the behaviour of the virus in any significant way as far as we can tell, and none of the mutations that have occurred so far would be ones you would expect to make the vaccine less effective. But it is possible as the vaccines work and put pressure on the virus that the virus mutates and other forms arise which would require new vaccines in due course so would require new vaccines in due course so i dont think its the case the vaccines we have got now will be the ones we use forever. We may need to get new ones, but what is very clear is that with these technologies and approaches it is possible to make vaccines, and after all a new flu vaccine is made every year because of mutations so it is possible to make those changes, but at the moment there is nothing to suggest there would be any mutation to make the vaccine is ineffective. Just one point to that which is the one reason you may have to have multiple vaccinations is because of mutation, as with flu, but another is that there are many diseases where you have to top up the vaccine ona where you have to top up the vaccine on a regular basis. Some vaccines you can give once for practical purposes for life, things like mmr, which will protect most people for life, but there are some, many vaccines for example travellers take, you would have to take every two or three years because immunity wanes and you need to top it up again. There are a few reasons we may have a situation where people are notjust may have a situation where people are not just vaccinated may have a situation where people are notjust vaccinated on one course of vaccination but may have to repeat it subsequently. Thank you both very much. Lets go to Laura Kuenssberg of the bbc. Some people watching might wonder whats going on. You have said this week people will be able to travel all over the country at christmas which will bring risks but now you are clamping down again. What was the point of the National Lockdown in england over the last four weeks if more people are moving into tougher restrictions than before . If i can ask the medics, would it be safer in your view if more people were in tier 3 and your view if more people were in tier3and are your view if more people were in tier 3 and are you concerned about some doubts being raised about the oxford vaccine . It is important for everybody to understand that what is happening next week from midnight on tuesday, wednesday, this is not continuing the lockdown. On the contrary, across all tiers shops will be open, hairdressers, personal services will be open, gyms will be functioning, places of worship will be open for communal worship as well so this is a very different thing but what we have got to do is keep our eye on the prize. Remember that injusta our eye on the prize. Remember that injust a few our eye on the prize. Remember that in just a few months we will have a vaccine, im convinced of it now. I am convinced, you know, chris has finally talked me into it that by april things will genuinely be much better. But what we want to avoid is relaxing now too much, taking our foot off the throat of the beast now when we have got it pretty much in a better place where it was before the autumn measures came in. There is a substantial relaxation across all tiers but we are not abandoning the fight yet, of course not, because we still as i say have long months ahead. I think the strategy is balanced and it is right. The key thing is that for those communities that are in tier 3 or who feel they have endured so much for so long, and who see weeks and months ahead of further hardship, and im thinking particularly of the hospitality sector, we now have this option of mass testing. I have been going on about this for weeks and weeks but it is there. We saw in liverpool how it definitely helped. Listen to whatjoe anderson is saying today, and i thank the people of liverpool for what they have done. It helped to bring the rate of infection down, and that is something i think people can take heart and confidence from, and it is something we will make available throughout the worst affected areas for communities to take up. Again, like the vaccine, that is something thatis like the vaccine, that is something that is very different from the world we were in just a few weeks ago. In terms of the tiers, something we have all said repeatedly is there are damaging things that happen every way we go. If we do too much, we end up damaging socially, economically and ina damaging socially, economically and in a variety of different ways which are obvious to people. If we do too little, that virus gets out of control and it starts to increase again. The whole time we are trying to do the least damaging thing we can possibly do. Therefore, the way we have done this on this occasion and they will have to be some adjustment, we hope downwards primarily, but there will have to be overtime, is to primarily, but there will have to be over time, is to try to only put places in tier 3 where the rates are either high or rising. If they are either high or rising. If they are either broadly stable or falling they go into tier 2. We are keen to avoid doing anything we do not have to do, but at the same time to do enough to make sure we keep r below one and thats the reason things are in the tiers they are at the moment. Safety is not just about covid, its the whole package with everything to do about health and the wider society. A brief comment on the oxford vaccine. My simple answer to this is there is always scientific debate about virtually everything. The key point from our point of view is to leave this in the hands of the regulator. They will make an assessment with lots of data which is not currently in the Public Domain on efficacy and safety, and we will see the papers published in Peer Reviewed journals which will allow us to make a wider decision about what needs to happen. We need to allow that process to go forward. Its always a mistake to make too many judgments early before its always a mistake to make too manyjudgments early before we have the full information and the independent regulator has had their chance to look at the data. |j independent regulator has had their chance to look at the data. I agree. We have seen the headline result of 70 efficacy of the vaccine. The regulator will see the total results, efficacy and safety, the lot, and we have a great regulator in the uk. They will look at it and make their decisions around it. Headline results, the vaccine works and that is very exciting, and it will be put forward for approval. The regulators will need to look at it and decide, and that will be true for all the vaccines. Robert peston, itv. At one of these press conferences a few months ago you said there would be no return to austerity but because of covid we are borrowing at an unsustainable rate, amounts we have not seen since the second world war. You are going to have to cut spending and raise taxes, arent you . And on the local, the new regional restrictions, only the new regional restrictions, only the isles of scilly, isle of wight and cornwall are in the lowest areas of restriction. Everywhere else is broadly subject to semi lockdown. You wanted to whack a mole. Why didnt it work . If Patrick Vallance and chris whitty have views on why whack a mole didnt work, that would be helpful. First of all on your point about the uk economy and tax and spending and so forth, you will have heard from the chancellor yesterday. I think he set out not just a package to help this country bounce back from covid and to help us through covid, but it gives us the Building Blocks for long term growth in the economy, in productivity, taking some of the really difficult decisions to build long term prosperity for the uk. Im very confident about the path that we are on, but it will of course need fiscal prudence and of course you will get that from this government. On your question about the whole local versus National Lockdown strategy, actually i think if you listen to what patrick said earlier on, the tier approach was slowing the virus down and that is why a tiered approach is the right way to go now. If you look at the disparity in incidents in some places between some parts of the uk and others, you want to go for a tiered approach. Those parts of the country that unquestionably will feel they have unfairly been put in a high tier, there is hope. There is this option that liverpool has taken up this option that liverpool has taken up of mass Community Testing, everybody working together to kick covid out. Get a test in your local community and drive the r down, drive the incident down. For me that isa drive the incident down. For me that is a real change in the way we have been able to deal with the disease that we have achieved just in the last few weeks or so. One important thing i would add to what the Prime Ministersaid, thing i would add to what the Prime Minister said, there is a seasonality to this. There was a period over the summer across the uk and all over europe, rates were very low after a huge effort by society to bring them down. There was a period to hold things at a low level. At across the whole continent we are seeing rates go up as we level. At across the whole continent we are seeing rates go up as we come into the autumn and winter period. This is very similar to many respiratory viruses. We are about to hit the flu season and we hope that wont be even worse than where we are at the moment. There is a bunch of things you have to do this season that are greater than you would have to do early on in the year. That will reverse when we come into the Spring Season will reverse when we come into the Spring Season on will reverse when we come into the Spring Season on the other side. It is important to understand there is a seasonal element and the second, the headroom in the nhs naturally goes down as we go into the winter months. We have less room for manoeuvre on that side of the equation. In terms of that hearing, there are tiers that would work in there are tiers that would work in the spring, very early autumn months, which i would not expect to work at this stage. And as vaccines get rolled out, assuming they get approved by the regulator, iwant get rolled out, assuming they get approved by the regulator, i want to put that caveat in as very important one, we would expect there to be a situation where little by little, bits of the country could start to walk out of this, down the tiers as we head towards a period where we have the restrictions will be very substantially lessened than they are obviously at the moment. So the tiers will have a very useful activity and what i hope is, in some months to come, possibly in some weeks to come we will be in a situation where more could go into tier1, but we situation where more could go into tier 1, but we should not do that unless we are confident. The experience for tea and one was, the rates start to go up, so you do not wa nt rates start to go up, so you do not want to do that in winterjust before christmas, going into the worst time in the nhs, unless you are very confident. That is the reason why this particular approach has been taken. I think making sure the tier is Strong Enough to keep it under control in winter and is Strong Enough for the local situation to handle it. Going to low and watching cases rise means everybody gets more and you have to do more drastic measures. You have got to go in hard enough for the Current Situation in order to get things down with a r below one. Lets go to beth rigby at sky news. Liverpool is one of the Success Stories today but it did take mass testing and 2000 troops helping out. So how are you going to deliver mass testing to 40 of the population to mark are you going to have to deploy the entire british army . And to the scientists, professor whitty and sir patrick, professor whitty, you said earlier this week that loosening at christmas comes with a risk. 42 of the population where in tier1 before the lockdown, nowjust1 of the population in tier 1. Are you trying to anticipate in the decisions you have taken, inevitable rise in cases over that five day Christmas Period by being tougher with people before and probably after, too . Beth, really good question about mass testing and how it works. I dont want to oversell how easy it is to do this, depends on strong, local leadership of the kind we have seen in liverpool and a real spirit in the community who wa nt to real spirit in the community who want to do it. It has also got to be stressed it is only part of the panoply of interventions that you need to defeat the disease. We have also got to make sure you are following the guidance and doing all the right things as the people of liverpool were and are doing across the country. So it can definitely help. And to get to your point about how can we do this in 40 of the country that alas, currently in tier 3, how can we help them into lower tiers. We will give the help and support of the arm services where necessary and it will take local communities coming together to get that lateral flow test out and we are working with parts of the country, various towns already coming forward saying they want to do what liverpool has already done. It depends on communities coming together and local communities saying they want to do it. It is not something we want to be imposing. You cannot just compel something we want to be imposing. You cannotjust compel people to ta ke you cannotjust compel people to take a test. People need to understand this is the way forward, both for themselves and for their communities and Everybody Needs to feel that and do it together as they did in liverpool. But where there is local will, as there is in doncaster, barnsley and places like that, we are working hard to get it done. You are right about the 2000 troops, but we will make sure we have adequate numbers of personnel to get it done. The key thing will be making sure over the months to come that we have enough lateral flow tests. At the moment, we have huge, huge stocks of them right now that we have bought in and we hope eventually to make them in this country ourselves. In terms of christmas, it will increase the risk, everyone knows that. That is not a secret at all. But that is not the only risk over this next period. We are going into the beginning of the flu season potentially. We have the flu season potentially. We have the most difficult period for the nhs which is always january, february and march is not particularly easy, for a bunch of reasons ranging from pneumonias and slips and falls. It is a time of extreme pressure. It is not a time of the year, leaving aside christmas, where you would want to be taking reckless decisions, because things are going to be fairly difficult, as we have all made clear for several months now. And therefore we have got to anticipate christmas is an element of that, but it is only an element. And i think something we must emphasise is the way to make sure christmas can both be enjoyed but does not lead to a very large cape up does not lead to a very large cape up in the virus is to make sure people are serious going into it, follow the guidance, buy into it and ta ke follow the guidance, buy into it and take it seriously during christmas, dont do unnecessary things just because the rules say you can. Think sensibly and coming out of it, also be sensible. People have been incredibly sensible and incredibly self disciplined all the way through this. All we want to say is please continue that over this period. It doesnt mean you cannot enjoy yourself, itjust doesnt mean you cannot enjoy yourself, it just means doesnt mean you cannot enjoy yourself, itjust means you have got to take the sensible precautions that most people understand. Dominic from metro. Prime minister, is it fair that areas from metro. Prime minister, is it fairthat areas in from metro. Prime minister, is it fair that areas in tier 3 hit by pub and restaurant closures will get support for those businesses, but none for the companies that depend on them . And one for the scientists, we have been told we have huge, huge stocks of mass testing and we have been promised a mass roll out as these tiers come into force. Will we stick to these rules when the Prime Minister tells us we have our foot on the throes of the beast and the cavalry is inside . On your question about businesses associated, i think you mean in the supply chains of the Hospitality Industry . You are quite right to draw attention to them and they deserve protection as well, thatis they deserve protection as well, that is why we have instituted all the measures we have in terms of the grants, the £3000 grant for businesses that are forced to close. The fellow scheme, which goes right the way through to march, the cuts in vat and in business rates, another £1. 1 billion for councils to support businesses in the areas that are in trouble. The best thing for all these companies, the best thing for everybody is for us to be able to get them on their feet again, get them supplying the hospitality trade again, all the things they depend on and that depends on us being able to get the virus down in the way that i have described and we hope can happen. The vaccine, as chris and patrick have said, offers a real, real hope and then there is this prospect now of Community Testing as well, combined with really tough adherents to the measures we are announcing today. Dont forget, as i said at the beginning to laura, whatever people say about these measures, they are very different from the current lockdown. There are many more ways in which Economic Activity can and will continue. Can i say activity can and will continue. Can isaya activity can and will continue. Can i say a word about the cavalry . The vaccines are looking really good from what we have seen but they have yet to go through a regulatory process and they are yet to go through a process where we have doses of them to administer. It is not going to be an overnight thing to get them implemented. It will ta ke to get them implemented. It will take a month or so between doses. You have to have two doses are most of these in order to get the immunity. We are not talking about suddenly getting this switched off anytime soon. This will take months into spring before we get the do significant degrees of vaccination to great protection. And on mass testing side, testing is important, but of course it only matters if people isolate as well. It is about taking infected and infectious people out of circulation. It isnt easy. It is important and there is exa m ples of easy. It is important and there is examples of liverpool where this has been done and it is part of what happens, but it will not solve the problems on its own. In terms of the things we can relax now, that would be the wrong thing to do and this is rising very steeply in october. It got curtailed by the tiers, particularly tier 3 and it has been curtailed further by National Lockdown. If you take the brakes off now, it will get up and run away and we will be back in a situation of growth. It is very important we dont think this is something we can now relax about. We will be able to when vaccination comes in and eventually gets a hold and get the immunity in place. But that isnt now. I will add to that, on your question, one of the really heartening things about this whole, dreadful period of covid is the extraordinary old tourism of the british public, who have been incredibly good at being self disciplined and sticking to rules, sticking to them and keeping to common sense and they have done so incredibly patiently over a long period of time. We do not see any evidence that that is not still true. Of course, you will be able to ta ke true. Of course, you will be able to take some photographs of people who dont, but this is a very small minority. Most people are very, very good at this and they are doing it to protect the people, other people going to the nhs, other people and their neighbours. They do need to understand the points that patrick is making, the Prime Minister has not been saying it is solved, he is saying wait, it is something we have got time, we can see an end to it but the end is not now and we have got to keep that discipline through to the point where we are better protected by medical science. Which has been remarkable and continues to be. Thank you very much, can we go to the mirror. Same question to all three of you, do you think it is a goodidea three of you, do you think it is a good idea that over christmas we can travel hundreds of miles across the country, potentially from tier 3 area to a t1 area and see elderly relatives we have not seen for months in many cases, which one of you will specifically be doing that and the question to professor whitty, in relation to christmas, you said dont do unnecessary things just because you can, what things did you have in mind . Ifi canjust a nswer did you have in mind . Ifi canjust answer the general question first. It is an incredibly difficult decision, you have to strike a balance between peoples strong desire to celebrate a family holiday, perhaps one of the most important family holidays and the most important family holiday of the year. And which they are going to do anyway, but we need to keep the virus under control. We are trying to set out with the christmas measures we have agreed across the whole of the uk, because we want everybody across the uk to be able to travel to see relatives. It is a sensible balance, but it depends, as chris and patrick have tried to stress, on all of us being commonsensical and doing the right thing. In the end, as both chris and patrick have just said, until the vaccine comes on stream, patrick have just said, until the vaccine comes on stream, you patrick have just said, until the vaccine comes on stream, you know, we are not out of the woods yet. We have to be very, very vigilant. Everybodys individual behaviour of christmas will matter a great deal. In terms of what i was saying about christmas, i think you gave a good example, actually. What i want someone example, actually. What i want someone to see their family . Of course, that is what christmas is about whether people celebrate it as about whether people celebrate it as a festival for themselves or any other belief system, it is an opportunity for families. Would i encourage somebody to hug and kiss their elderly relatives . No, i would not. It is not against the law, that is the whole point, you can do it within the rules, but you could be carrying the virus. If you have got an elderly relative, that is not the thing you want to do if we are running up to a point where we can protect older people. People just have to have sense. And i think this is what people will do, the fact you can do something, this is true across so many can do something, this is true across so many other can do something, this is true across so many other areas can do something, this is true across so many other areas of life, doesnt mean you should. In answer to your direct questions, what would we be doing . I will be on the wards. Try to make sure you avoid behaviours that will spread the disease, make sure that if you are ina disease, make sure that if you are in a house with other households, that you have got it well ventilated and you take precautions and keep distance where you can. It is the same basic rules we need to apply. It is difficult, it is not going to bea it is difficult, it is not going to be a normal christmas. But if you wa nt to be a normal christmas. But if you want to make those connections with family, it has to be done in a way where you try and make sure you dont increase the risk. As chris, hugging elderly relatives is not something to go out and do. It will increase the spread to the vulnerable population. If you want to survive to be hugged again. Liam thorpe of the liverpool echo. To survive to be hugged again. Liam thorpe of the liverpool echom to survive to be hugged again. Liam thorpe of the liverpool echo. It is two questions for yourself, Prime Minister. You spoken a lot today about the success that is the liverpool mass testing pilot but there have been concerns. In the poorest parts of liverpool there was a low take up of the most testing, partly because 80 in some of these areas have not been able to qualify for the emergency cash they need to be able to choose between putting food on the table and doing the right thing and self isolating. Will you increase the funding available for people when they do self isolate . And secondly, again you have spoken about the spirit of the people of liverpool and that is really what has made this a success. Liverpool doesnt necessarily have the best relationship with the conservative party and view areas have been hit harder by austerity in the last ten years. Will you remember the effort put in by scousers when it comes to funding in the future . Definitely, liam, i think what has happened in liverpool has been fantastic. Your point about needing to reach everybody in the community is absolutely right and we are studying the way the liverpool experiment went and looking at what we can do to try to make sure we reach all groups with these Community Testing efforts. Its fair to say it wasntjust Community Testing efforts. Its fair to say it wasnt just the testing that was a success in liverpool, it was the way everybody seems to have pulled together to do the right thing and to get the virus down. That is our clear impression and i think that is fantastic. Yes, of course we will make sure we continue to support liverpool and city cities throughout the uk, unite and level up the country, and thats why we are putting money in but yesterday the chancellor announced another £4 billion levelling up fund. So everywhere that has had a tough time, we will keep supporting you throughout covid and beyond. I dont think you had a question for chris and patrick. Ok, everybody, thank you. See you next time. The Prime Minister, freshly out of isolation, bringing to an end the latest downing street briefing. A great deal to chew on. Lets take a look at some of the main points. The Prime Minister talked about the tightening of the tiers system in england confirming most of the country will be placed into the top two tiers when the lockdown ends next week. The tiers will be reviewed every 14 days with the first review taking place on the 16th of december. Borisjohnson said that while National Lockdown measures are having an effect in slowing the spread of the virus he warned that if we ease off now we risk losing control of the virus all over again and that, he says, could open the way to a new year lockdown. Our health correspondent, nick triggle is here. Towards the end of the questions the panel was being asked, there was a concentration on christmas and the contradiction about the relaxation over christmas compared to the quite tough tier system coming into place next week. Yes, when england comes out of the National Lockdown, the overwhelming majority of the country will find itself in the top two tiers with tough restrictions so it is only a small step out of lockdown. That contrasts with christmas where we will have a window where restrictions are lifted. People can mix in their families homes and that has divided opinion. Scientists say it will increase the number of infections and threatens a third wave in the new year but i think ministers have been influenced by the experts in Human Behaviour who also advised them, and they were concerned large numbers of people were going to ignore any restrictions that were perhaps going to be in place at christmas. It is a very fine judgment, but they have decided you are better to work with the public, to provide advice on how to celebrate christmas safely. By doing that you build trust, you build a relationship, a partnership that will be vital then in the new year when restrictions will continue to exist and a lot will be asked of the public for what will be a long time. And it will also perhaps hopefully provide a boost to people after what has been a difficult year, and theres still some difficult months ahead. Indeed. We have to leave it there. Thank you, nick triggle. Our Political Correspondent chris mason is at westminster. And the Prime Minister has been talking about the role of mass testing in tier 3. Yes, we saw a number ofjohnson flourishes this afternoon. An important part of the messaging, to try to encourage people to behave responsibly and not to a cce pt people to behave responsibly and not to accept the tier are something that will last forever. Pointing to the example of the Liverpool City Region put into the highest tier before the National Restrictions kicked in, falling to tier 2 by the middle of next week. Whats interesting though is the practicalities around the support that will be provided for a far greater number of people who will find themselves in tier 3 next week compared with the number that were there in the previous incarnation of there in the previous incarnation of the tier system. Liverpool had a huge amount of support as far as testing and the military were concerned. Can that be scaled up to the same extent given that in tier 3 under the new restrictions, 23 Million People will be living under the restrictions, compared with 8. 5 million under the previous incarnation. There is a big challenge around the practicality. What we got overall in that News Conference was the scientists saying in tier1 cases rise, in tier 2 they are held steady, only in tier 3 do they fall. Given where we are heading into the winter, it is necessary to put swathes of england into the higher tiers. The Prime Minister making the case that being ina tier minister making the case that being in a tier doesnt mean you will be stuck in it forever but to take our feet off the throat of the beast now would be a mistake. That directed at a growing and vociferous number of his own backbenchers who simply do not like what has happened today and feel that the geographical patches that each tier has been attached to are far too broad and dont pay sufficient attention to the local geography is where often there are big variations within individual counties. Do you think there are political difficulties ahead for the Prime Minister, given that it is unclear how each region might get out of the tier they are in. Unclear how each region might get out of the tier they are inlj unclear how each region might get out of the tier they are in. I do, i think its awkward. We are seeing a similar range of voices to those before when there was an argument about the tier system on the conservative backbenches. People like graham brady, the chair of the 1922 committee of conservative mps, his seat in altrincham in Greater Manchester, a relatively low number of cases, all of Greater Manchester put into tier 3. I have seen a letter signed by liam fox, irritated that they have been categorised in the bristol area in tier 3. The argument made by government in these cases are they are defined geographical areas as far as people live their lives, commuting to work for instance. They counter people are not supposed to be commuting to work unless they have too. So there isa work unless they have too. So there is a real tussle as far as conservative backbenchers are concerned. Labour, head of that vote next tuesday, are currently holding their cards close to their chest and say they wont make a decision on how they will vote until they have had briefings from the Government Experts at the beginning of next week. There is a persuasionjob here, although the government has a sizeable majority in the house of commons, but also persuading to stick to the rules in the months ahead. Chris mason in westminster, thank you. Lets get some reaction to the tiers. Greater manchester was in tier 3 before the lockdown and will go back into tier 3 when the lockdown ends. Andy burnham is the mayor of Greater Manchester and a former Labour Health secretary. Hes also been giving us his thoughts on the decision. On the evidence alone, leaving politics outside of it, i can understand the decision. Because although we have the fastest rate of decrease in england right now, our cases are still higher than the england average and there is still considerable pressure within our hospital system. If things continue in this way for the next fortnight, i will be asking the government to review things, to bring us down to tier 2 and mounting a cross Party Campaign on that basis in Greater Manchester. In the capital, all 32 boroughs and the city of london will go into tier 2 thats the same tier as pre lockdown. Sadiq khan, mayor of london, said it was the right outcome. I think it is the right and sensible decision. Londoners have made monumental sacrifices over the last few weeks and months, and i give credit to matt hancock and the government to work with us to get a grip on this virus. I remind londoners we are still in lockdown until next wednesday, and even then restrictions will apply. This means many of us will be able to visit shops, bars and restaurants who desperately need custom during december because they have already struggled over the recent past. We are cognizant of the fact the virus is still spreading and people are still losing their lives and that is why it is important we follow the rules. And if you need to find out what level of restrictions will be in place where you live, you can search using our postcode checker on the bbc news website, thats bbc. Co. Uk news. Now its time for a look at the weather with darren bett. Hello there. The next few days look generally dry, but theres probably going to be more cloudy, grey sort of weather across the uk. Today there has certainly been some sunshine, particularly once that early mist and fog are lifted. Weve had some blue skies through parts of the midlands, the Home Counties for example. But weve got a few weather fronts on the scene, this one anchored by low pressure near spain is bringing more cloud in the southeast corner and a few showery bursts of rain. This weak weather front is moving into the northwest, bringing more cloud into scotland and Northern Ireland as we head through the night. More fog around tomorrow morning and asa more fog around tomorrow morning and as a result it will be a cold day. This is the area more likely to have the fog that will linger through the morning. This is where we have the yellow warning from the met office. That fog slow to lift, but some sunshine across other parts of england and wales and the south west for a while. That cloud running through the english channel, some again through the irish sea and cloudy skies with patchy rain for scotla nd cloudy skies with patchy rain for scotland and Northern Ireland. Where the fog is slow to clear it will be a cold day through the midlands, temperatures no better than three or 4 degrees. For many it will be a cloudy weekend but it should be milder and thats because we will have more of a breeze which will be coming in from continental europe. It pushes the colder air towards the north, allowing milder air in from the south. Its a messy start to the weekend with dampness, patchy mist and fog and a frosty start in scotla nd and fog and a frosty start in scotland in particular. But the best of the sunshine probably here. Some sunshine coming through across southern parts of england. 11 or 12 degrees. Whereas in scotland the temperatures no better than 5 degrees in some places. The second half of the weekend looks grey and gloomy with a lot of low cloud around. Cloud coming into Northern Ireland and western scotland this time so the best of the sunshine will be in the north east of the country. Temperatures in the afternoon typically eight or nine celsius. Today at six borisjohnson spells out what happens when the lockdown in england ends next week. 55 Million People will still find themselves in the top two tiers. Much of the north, like manchester and hull, face the toughest restrictions