No extra Covid restrictions for Melton borough residents

Boris Johnson’s government is introducing new controls from Wednesday which will see areas of England placed in specific tiers depending on the local infection rate.

Because Melton has a relatively low number of cases, it has been put into the ‘medium’ tier, which means a continuation of the status quo, where people can only meet up in groups of up to six and hospitality businesses must close by 10pm every night.

Rutland has also been placed in the lowest of the three tiers due to its low number of positive cases.

However, residents living in villages to the north of Melton, in Rushcliffe district, will be in the ‘high’ tier with the rest of Nottinghamshire and the city of Nottingham as a consequence of the high infection rates there.

This means that people living in Upper Broughton, Hickling, Kinoulton, Langar, Owthorpe, Colston Bassett, Barnstone, Cropwell Bishop and Cropwell Butler will be unable to meet up with people from other households indoors and in social settings.

They can, though, mix with others in private gardens and public open spaces, providing they observe the ‘rule of six’ social distancing requirement.

Rushcliffe Borough Council had advised residents to observe these stricter measures from last Friday because of the need to limit further spread and their advice has now been rubber-stamped by the government.

Council leader Councillor Simon Robinson said: “It’s vital Rushcliffe residents, in line with all those across Nottinghamshire, play their part to stop the spread of the virus by following the rules set out in this new high tier set out by central government.

“We know the sacrifices many people have made and continue to make that affect their freedom, business and home life but we must continue to follow these guidelines so we can do what is required to protect us all.”

Those areas with the highest infection rates will be placed into the ‘very high’ tier with pubs, gyms, casinos and other hospitality venues having to close and residents baned from mixing with other households.

Currently only Liverpool is going to be put under these severest restrictions.

The Prime Minister said action needed to be taken now because infections were rising rapidly and that there are now more people with Covid in hospital now than when the nation went into lockdown on March 23.