Transcripts For BBCNEWS Coronavirus 20201126 : comparemela.c

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

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