West Yorkshire Move To Tier 3 CANCELLED
It's after national restrictions have been announced from Thursday
Last updated 31st Oct 2020
Local leaders in West Yorkshire have confirmed the region will not be moving into tier 3 restrictions on Monday.
It's after The Prime Minister announced a set of national measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, due to come into effect later this week.
Non-essential retail will be shut from Thursday 5th November, as well as pubs, bars and cafes. Schools and other educational institutions will remain open.
West Yorkshire's leaders confirmed, soon after the Prime Minister's announcement, that the county will not enter tier 3 as previously planned, instead staying in tier 2 until Thursday.
What are the national restrictions?
The full details are yet to be published, but the Prime Minister announced on Saturday evening (31st October 2020) that:
- All non-essential retail will close, including pubs, restaurants, entertainment venues and leisure facilities except for takeaways.
- People will only be able to leave their home for specific reasons including work, essential shopping, exercise and in case of emergencies.
- Other businesses including building and manufacturing will remain open provided they follow Government guidance.
- Early years, schools and further and higher education will remain open.
- There will be further restrictions on household mixing
- There is a determination to keep the NHS open and #StillHereToHelp
- Vulnerable people are asked to minimise their contact with others
The reaction from West Yorkshire
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority, made up of leaders from Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees councils, have released a statement:
Following several days of intense discussions with Ministers about the introduction of new restrictions in West Yorkshire, we are frustrated and angry about the government’s timing, handling and communications around the plans for a national lockdown.
Firstly, for our residents and businesses, we must clear up understandable confusion: the region will now NOT be moving into Tier Three (Very High) measure on Monday as planned; we will remain in Tier Two (High) restrictions, and then follow the national measures from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December.
The residents and businesses of West Yorkshire had only just begun to prepare for Tier Three measures to hit on Monday, and they are now having to change their plans once again.
We have worked hard over the last few days to advocate for the people and businesses of West Yorkshire. It is imperative that Government now honours the financial commitments made to the people and businesses of the region during these discussions in writing again now.
We received verbal assurances this evening that support packages will be provided, but await written confirmation from Government.
We remain extremely concerned about the rising infection rates in the region. The urgency for people to restrict their social interactions is still as real as it was when Tier 3 was announced last week. Our hospitals are under tremendous strain and we would collectively implore everyone to follow the regulations, stay apart, wash your hands and wear your face covering. We must now pull together, comply with the rules and take every action we can to face this challenge as a community and as a nation. We have to do this to beat this virus.