Third national lockdown looms after Christmas
Rishi Sunak has also extended the furlough scheme until April, adding to speculation that tight restrictions will continue beyond Easter
17 December 2020 • 9:30pm
The areas that have been pushed into Tier 3 have steadily grown since the last lockdown
A third national lockdown will be considered if coronavirus infections continue to rise after Christmas, Downing Street has suggested.
More than 38 million people in England – 68 per cent of the population – will be in Tier 3 from Saturday after large parts of the South East were plunged into the harshest level of restrictions by ministers.
Tory MPs in some of the new Tier 3 areas branded the decision “ridiculous”, but Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said he was left with no choice after infection rates surged by up to two thirds in some areas.
Large parts of south and east England move to Covid tier 3 as Bristol rules eased Peter Walker, Helen Pidd, Josh Halliday and Caelainn Barr
More than two-thirds of England faces winter under the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions after large sections of the south and east were put into tier 3, prompting anguish from local leaders.
Mayors and MPs from the north expressed disappointment after none of their regions were moved down, with some complaining they were being unfairly treated.
However, some public health chiefs took a different view, with one expressing dismay that Herefordshire had been shifted to the least stringent measures. Asked if she was pleased about the move to tier 1, Rebecca Howell-Jones, acting director of public health in Herefordshire, said: “From a public health perspective, I would have to say no, we are disappointed by this news.”