Health bosses in Knowsley urging government to only think about lifting lockdown once better controls are in place

Health bosses in the Liverpool City Region's worst hit borough for Coronavirus are urging the government to only think about lifting restrictions once better controls are in place.

It's as Minsters come under increasing pressure to set out plans for things like schools as well as hospitality and tourism.

Despite Case numbers falling right across Merseyside and Halton - Knowsley STILL has the highest infection rate in England.

Dr Sarah McNulty is the Director of Public Health there :

"Vaccination program is moving at pace and we need to make sure test and trace is working and that we have systems in place to help people who have to self isolate. We have a more infectious version of this virus now circulating so we have to make sure all systems are in place and working.

"There are still a lot of people who are having to go to work in this lockdown so I think the decline in the rates will be slower and will take time to come down to anything that gives us some kind of room to manoeuvre."

One option the government are said to be considering is a return to the old tier system but some officials in the Liverpool City region feel that was partly to blame for a rapid rise in infection in December.

If that is the way the cabinet choose to come out of lockdown then Sarah McNulty wants a shake up of the old system :

"Especially in the light of a more transmittable disease so maybe look at the geography of those tiers. People move about, especially with the likes of hospitality so I think a good evaluation of the system needs to happen".