Covid restrictions remain across Melton borough

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, announced in the House of Commons that the vast majority of England would stay in Tier 3 for the time being because infection rates were still too high.

He announced that only the areas of Bristol and North Somerset plus Herefordshire will drop to Tier 2 due to falling infection rates.

Remaining in Tier 3 will mean pubs, restaurants and cafes must remain closed except for takeaway and delivery operations.

People from different households are also being told not to mix indoors or in private gardens.

All retail shops can remain open and the town’s Waterfield Leisure Centre can also continue to operate.

Leicestershire’s top health official says a rise in infection rates over the past week had been the major factor in the entire county remaining in the highest Tier.

Mike Sandys, the county council’s director of public health, said there had been a ‘resigned acceptance’ over the past 48 hours that the county was likely to stay in Tier 3.

He said this afternoon: “We can’t escape the fact that rates have gone up in the past few days.

“It’s probably the news we were expecting, but it’s still disappointing as everyone has done really well in driving down the rates.”

Earlier this week, Leicester’s hospitals said they are treating more people with Covid-19 than during the first wave of the pandemic, and that is coupled with the usual winter pressures

“We’re also very aware of significant pressures on the NHS in Leicestershire – that will have been another factor behind the decision making,” added Mr Sandys.

Nick Rushton, leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: “We know that being in Tier 3 is very tough for residents and businesses, in particular, and we would have hoped for a different outcome when the government made its decision.

“However, there is a wider acknowledgment that rates have risen over the past few days, and what we now need is a collective effort to ensure people stay safe in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.”

There will be a further Government review of the Tiers system in two weeks.

The latest figures show Leicestershire’s rate for every 100,000 people is 167.2 - compared to England’s figure of 173.3 - emphasising the work that has been done to drive down rates.

Melton now has the second highest rate in the county, at 232.4, behind Oadby and Wigston (319.2).

Rates in other county districts are Blaby (226.5), Harborough (148.2), North West Leicestershire (130.3), Hinckley and Bosworth (129.9) and Charnwood (122.7).

This data relates to the time period of December 3 to 9.

The data also shows that all districts, apart from Charnwood, have also seen an increase in cases over a seven-day period.

However, the Covid Tier restrictions do not apply over the festive season with the government still keen to allow families to enjoy Christmas together.

Up to three different households will still be able to gather for Christmas as restrictions are relaxed from December 23 to 27.

Yesterday, England’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, urged people to keep festive gatherings small, not to travel too far and to avoid journeying from high-prevalence areas to low-prevalence areas.

Mr Sandys also made a renewed plea for people to ‘think long and hard’ about plans they have when restrictions ease over the Christmas period.

He said: “I don’t want people to not have a Christmas, but I’m urging families to take a sensible approach when making any arrangements.

“Whatever families agree on after thinking long and hard about the situation, it’s vital that the national advice is followed.

“That’s around frequent hand washing, cleaning door handles and surfaces, socially distancing from anyone who do not live with, and, where possible, opening windows and doors.

“I am concerned that, after Christmas, infection rates, which are already creeping up, will continue to rise and we’ll be facing the scenario very early in the new year of more widespread community testing, particularly around ‘hot-spots’ in certain electoral wards.”

Community testing is set to get underway early next month with plans now being finalised which will see lateral flow test pop-up testing deployed in communities across Leicestershire with the highest rates.

The county council has 16,000 new-style kits and can draw down more from the government as required.

Last weekend, the government announced a list of 67 Tier 3 areas where it will roll out community testing.

Although Leicestershire is not on the list, the council has worked up its own plan without the need for government support.