LONDON (Reuters) – London will move into England’s highest tier of COVID-19 restrictions, the government said on Monday, citing an exponential rise in infection rates as one of the world’s richest cities struggles to contain the disease.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock also said more than 1,000 cases of a new variant of the coronavirus had been identified, mainly in southeast England where the variant may be associated with a rapid rise in infection levels.
“Over the last week, we’ve seen very sharp, exponential rises in the virus across London, Kent, parts of Essex and Hertfordshire,” Hancock told the House of Commons in a statement, referring to counties near London.
“We do not know the extent to which this is because of the new variant, but no matter its cause, we have to take swift and decisive action,” he said, announcing that the entire capital and some neighbouring areas would go into “High Alert” level.
Earlier this month, the government implemented a three-tiered system of restrictions in England to try to keep a second wave of the virus under control after a month-long national lockdown. More than 40% of citizens were placed in the highest risk category.
However London, whose 9 million people and world-leading financial centre make it the engine of the British economy, is currently only in the second highest tier of restrictions.
The tougher Tier 3 restrictions will come into force in the capital from 0001 GMT on Wednesday.
The main difference between the top two tiers is that bars and restaurants, which can stay open under certain conditions in Tier 2, must close their doors in Tier 3 and can only operate takeaway services.
There are also additional restrictions on socialising, but workplaces and schools are told to remain open.
“Moving into Tier 3 before Christmas will be deeply disappointing for Londoners, and a terrible blow to the capital’s hospitality, leisure and cultural sectors,” said John Dickie, Director of Strategy and Policy at business campaign group London First.
London was one of the first parts of the country to be hit by the coronavirus during the initial peak between March and May, but until recently a second wave has been more concentrated in northern and central England.
Data published last week showed case rates per 100,000 people in London stood at 191.8, putting the city ahead of regions that have stricter rules in place, such as the West Midlands.
Based on that data, the government raised concerns about the spread of the virus in London schools and announced a programme of mass testing. Two London boroughs, Greenwich and Islington, have unilaterally decided to close their schools altogether.
On the issue of the new variant, Hancock said there was currently nothing to suggest that it was likely to cause more serious disease or that it would not respond to a vaccine
London will move into England’s highest tier of Covid restrictions from 00:01 GMT on Wednesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.
Parts of Essex and parts of Hertfordshire will also enter tier three at the same time.
A new variant of coronavirus has been identified “which may be associated with the faster spread in the south of England”, Mr Hancock told the Commons.
Pubs and restaurants in tier three must close except for takeaway and delivery.
Also under the rules, sports fans cannot attend events in stadiums, and indoor entertainment venues – such as bowling alleys and cinemas – must remain shut.
The health secretary told MPs that action had to be taken immediately – before the next scheduled review of England’s three-tier system on Wednesday – to slow “sharp, exponential rises” in infection.
He said there was “currently nothing to suggest” that the new variant was more likely to cause serious disease and advice was that it’s “highly unlikely” the mutation would fail to respond to a vaccine.
But he added: “It shows we’ve got to be vigilant and follow the rules and everyone needs to take personal responsibility not to spread this virus.”
With Kent, Medway and Slough already under tier three rules, it means large parts of south-east England will soon join much of the Midlands, North West and North East England under the strictest curbs on social contacts.
More than 34 million people will be in tier three when the changes come into effect, 21.5 million in tier two and about 700,000 in tier one.
The latest tier three areas include:
- Greater London
- The south and west of Essex (Basildon, Brentwood, Harlow, Epping Forest, Castle Point, Rochford, Maldon, Braintree and Chelmsford, along with Thurrock and Southend-On-Sea borough councils)
- And the south of Hertfordshire (Broxbourne, Hertsmere, Watford and the Three Rivers local authority)
Mr Hancock is due to lead a Downing Street news conference at 18:00 alongside Prof Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, and Prof Kevin Fenton, London regional director for Public Health England.
What are tier three (very high) rules?
- You cannot mix indoors, in private gardens or in most outdoor venues, except with your household or bubble
- You can meet in a group of up to six in other outdoor spaces, such as parks, beaches or countryside
- Shops, gyms and personal care services (such as hairdressing) can stay open
- Bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants must stay closed, except for delivery and takeaway
- Sports fans cannot attend events in stadiums
- Indoor entertainment venues – such as bowling alleys and cinemas – must stay closed
- People are advised not to travel to and from tier three areas
Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said “none of us are surprised” at the action the health secretary is taking, but warned the country was “heading into the Christmas easing with diminishing headroom”.
Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan described the announcement as “incredibly disappointing” for businesses, but said it was clear the virus was “accelerating in the wrong direction” as he urged all Londoners to follow the rules.
Essex County Council leader David Finch said he was “very disappointed” with the news, adding: “We will lobby the government to ensure our Essex businesses have all the support they need, during this very challenging time.”
And Hertfordshire County Council’s leader, David Williams, acknowledged the changes would prompt concerns with “both residents and businesses” but said: “The message remains clear – we must all stay disciplined and stick to the guidance and rules if we are to improve the situation in Hertfordshire.”
The director of the Theatres Trust said the London’s theatres would face “disaster” under the stricter rules, while business owners in the capital said it would “be a ghost town”.
One MP said they were told in an earlier briefing from Mr Hancock that cases were doubling every seven days in the capital and that the next review of the tier system would be on 23 December.
Conservative MP Stephen Hammond, one of the London MPs who spoke with Mr Hancock earlier, said some of the figures they had been shown today “justified” the decision to move London into the most severe tier.
Mr Hammond denied that London had been treated as a special case by not being put in tier three earlier – saying last time around only small areas of London had seen big rises in cases.
