Norfolk MP says Tier 4 restrictions 'only way' to curb spread of Covid infections
Duncan Baker says it will have a huge impact but it needs to be done
Last updated 24th Dec 2020
A Norfolk MP says being in Tier 4 is what we need to protect people in the county.
Duncan Baker, who represents North Norfolk, says case rates across the county have gone up dramatically over the last few weeks, which is why restrictions have been tightened.
He says while it's really going to affect businesses in the area, it's needed to save lives.
The county will go into Tier 4 from midnight on Boxing Day, the Health Secretary announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Duncan Baker said: "It's going to have an enormous impact. We are, in effect, going back into a lockdown situation, which will have enormous impacts on our business community, our high streets and all those trying to make a living.
"It's enormously damaging but it is simply the only way to try to stem this very very fast rising new strain of the virus.
"All of this is underpinning our NHS, which is now seeing higher numbers of hospitalisation than it did during the initial peak in the first lockdown."
Reaction to the tier four news has come from various authority figures:
The Leader of Norfolk County Council, Andrew Proctor, has also been reacting to the news that the county will enter tier four on Boxing Day: “With our hospitals under increasing pressure and rates of the virus in the county continuing to rise over a number of indicators, the news of tougher restrictions for Norfolk isn’t what we wanted to hear but in those circumstances doesn’t come as too much of a surprise.
"Looking on the brighter side our case rates are still lower than other areas of the country, particularly the south east.
“Norfolk has made a collective effort to keep the virus at bay as best we can and it’s essential we continue to do that.
"It’s the impact on our hospitals that’s driving this change and we can’t afford to overwhelm them preventing our hard-pressed doctors and nurses from treating people and saving lives.
“I know this isn’t the news people want to hear at any time and particularly in the run up to Christmas, but the new variant of the virus means that it is more important than ever that we work together to protect our loved ones, protect the NHS and protect Norfolk.
“We know there’s a vaccine just round the corner but until many more people have had the jab the precautionary steps everyone must take of hands, face and space must continue. I hope that we can all take personal responsibility to do just that.
“We’d like to see family and friends on Christmas Day within the guidelines, but with Covid cases in our county rising rapidly we have to ask ourselves ‘is it necessary?’, ‘can the time together be shorter?’ and ‘can our gathering be smaller?’ as well as: ‘is it safe?’ and ‘is it sensible?’.
"We all want 2021 to be a better and brighter year and that means we need to celebrate Christmas and New Year with all those points in mind. By asking ourselves those questions particularly over the coming days, we can help to protect ourselves, protect others and protect Norfolk."
Chief Constable, Simon Bailey, said: “Reports of increasing infection rates associated with a new variant of COVID-19 will naturally cause concern among our communities.
"While traditionally this time of year lends itself to time with family and friends, the greatest gift we can give to our loved ones is respect and adherence to the regulations.
"I would encourage everyone to work together; we must follow the rules as it’s the only way to help stop the spread of the virus and reduce infections.”