"Alarming rise" in covid cases in Suffolk lands county in tier four
Tier four came as no surprise for authority leaders in Suffolk.
The Suffolk Resilience Forum says an 'alarming rise' in Covid-19 infection rates in the county, and pressure on hospitals, care homes and social care, has left the county heading into tier four restrictions from Boxing Day.
The county is currently in tier two but that will change from 00.01 on the 26th December.
The Resilience Forum says the pace of growth in the infection rate which is also a major concern for concern, with a 96% increase in cases in a week.
Suffolk’s current rate is 188 per 100,000 people. Two weeks ago this was 67 per 100,000.
In the last week Mid Suffolk cases have increased by 192%, West Suffolk 176% and Babergh cases by 166%.
The increase is also putting hospitals under pressure, with 239 Covid patients in Suffolk hospital beds as of the 23rd December.
Councillor Matthew Hicks, the leader of Suffolk County Council and chair of Suffolk's Local Outbreak Engagement board, said: "While it is not the news any of us wanted to hear, it comes as no surprise that Suffolk finds itself in Tier 4 given the rates of infection in recent days.
“The figures speak for themselves. This rise in cases, exacerbated by a more infectious variant, means increased pressure on the National Health Service and its partners, who are in the front line in the fight against Covid-19.
“We now must use this move into Tier 4 status as a spring-board from which to re-double our efforts in working together to bring rates down. This is our opportunity to halt the spread of the virus and enable us to move back into Tier 2.”
Chris Bally, Deputy Chair of the Suffolk Resilience Forum and Deputy Chief Executive of Suffolk County Council, said: “I would urge everyone to take these new restrictions very seriously.
“Whilst we are all disappointed in this announcement, we have shown tremendous fortitude and collective strength throughout this pandemic to do what is right, and follow the guidance so we can protect the most vulnerable and ultimately move beyond this.
“We know that with a vaccine already being rolled out across the country and with other vaccines are on the way so there is light at the end of the tunnel, but in the meantime, we must follow the Tier 4 restrictions to ensure we move to the lower tiers in the shortest time possible.”
What do the tier four restrictions mean for me?
Under Tier 4 people cannot leave their homes unless there is a reasonable excuse.
People cannot meet others indoors unless part of the same household or support bubble.
Outdoors, you can only meet one person from another household.
Those who are deemed clinically extremely vulnerable should not go to work and should limit time outside of their homes.
Tier 4 residents must not stay overnight away from home and cannot travel abroad.