Melton borough set to learn fate over Covid restrictions

The whole of Leicester and Leicestershire were placed into Tier 3 a fortnight ago, meaning that hospitality businesses closed for activities aside from takeaways and no mixing has been allowed between different households indoor or in private gardens.

But Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced in the House of Commons yesterday that Leicester and Leicestershire will be reviewed separately when the tiering system is looked at again tomorrow.

This has given a glimmer of hope that Melton borough might be downgraded to Tier 2, allowing hospitality to reopen and socialising restrictions to be relaxed slightly, since this area has had lower infection rates than the city.

Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, welcomed the move to decouple the county from the city but warned that infection rates were still a concern in the Melton area and that a move down to Tier 2 was still in the balance.

She said: “I am grateful and relieved that the Health Secretary has recognised the unique needs of Leicestershire county compared to those of the city. “After my concerted lobbying, and that of my colleagues, he confirmed for the first time in the House of Commons that Leicester county will be tiered separately to Leicester city.

“But that doesn’t mean we will automatically come out of Tier 3 in Melton.

“Cases are unfortunately rising, and a new COVID-19 strain has been discovered in the South East.

“We need to keep getting tested, adhere to the guidance, and get ourselves vaccinated to beat COVID-19.”

Latest government figures show Melton borough had 114 new Covid cases in the week to December 10, an increase of 17 on the previous week.

The infection rate for the borough is 223 cases per 100,000 of the population, compared to the England average of 151.

Rutland is in Tier 2 presently and Mr Hancock said residents needed to keep being vigilant to limit further spread if the county was drop down into the lowest level of restrictions, Tier 1.