PUBS and restaurants in coronavirus hotspots in England look set to face fresh restrictions after Downing Street said new data suggests there is “significant” transmission taking place in hospitality settings.
It said a “range of measures” is being looked at, with a particular focus on northern England, where it says infection rates are rising fastest. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick did not rule out pubs being ordered to shut in hotspots, while ministers are considering fresh financial packages to help the hardest hit areas and industries.
But with infection rates soaring in cities including Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle, regional leaders criticised the Government for not consulting them ahead of changes. Leaked Government documents disclosed that a new three-tier system for restrictions will be announced on Monday before measures come into force on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “We are seeing coronavirus cases rise across the entire country but they are rising faster in the north-east and north-west.
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“We are keeping the data under close review and we are considering a range of options to reduce the spread of the virus in order to protect communities and to protect the NHS.”
He suggested new restrictions on hospitality could be introduced in England as ministers come under pressure to act after Scotland announced fresh restrictions on the hospitality sector.
“Early data does suggest that a significant proportion of exposure to the virus is seen in the hospitality sector, and that is even more pronounced in younger age groups where we have been seeing the most rapid rise in infections,” the spokesman said. “The data is new and we will continue to gather evidence and review it.”
He added he was not yet in a position to publish it.
As of 9am yesterday, there had been a further 17,540 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK.
Health minister Nadine Dorries said further measures are needed because hospital admissions could be at a “critical stage” in around 10 days’ time.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the country was at a “perilous moment”.
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