Harsher restrictions to come into force across most of the North West
From Tuesday, more than 5 million people across the region will be subject to lockdown restrictions, after rising numbers of coronavirus cases
Leaders in the North West of England have welcomed new lockdown restrictions but expressed disappointment at the Government's handling of the pandemic.
Measures announced on Friday for Merseyside, Lancashire and parts of Cheshire will mean more than five million people in the North West of the country will be subject to lockdown restrictions, as measures are already in place in Greater Manchester.
The following rules come into force on Tuesday:
- People mustn't socialise with other households in their homes or private gardens
- Hospitality limited to table service only
- Late opening hours restricted, with leisure venues like pubs, restaurants and cinemas having to close between 10pm and 5am
- Residents will also be advised to avoid public transport, aside from essential services.
In Liverpool, the council asked residents to start following new measures "immediately'' and have a "safe and careful weekend''.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: "We have warned for several weeks now that tougher restrictions would be on the way unless we started to see the number of infections coming under control.
"Any further measures, such as closing venues, would be measures that the city's economy simply could not afford and would be a devastating blow for individuals and livelihoods.''
Warrington Borough Council leader, Councillor Russ Bowden, also urged people not to have "one more big night out''.
He said: "Although the new restrictions don't come into force until Tuesday, please support our efforts to drive down Warrington's coronavirus rates, by staying in or enjoying a night out responsibly and returning home for 10pm this weekend.''
Lancashire County Council's director of public health Dr Sakthi Karunanithi said the restrictions came as daily cases of Covid-19 had doubled in the area and hospital admissions had started to rise.
He said: "If we don't act now we could be facing another lockdown. The situation really is that stark.''
The rules apply to all areas of Lancashire apart from Blackpool, which is a separate unitary authority, and all of Merseyside as well as Halton and Warrington in Cheshire.
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