Tier 3 talks for North East to go ahead today with Government and North East leaders

The PA news agency reports that a meeting will take place this afternoon (Thursday, October 29) around a change in restrictions for the region.

When Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new tiered system of rules for England earlier this month, the North East and Tees Valley were placed under Tier 2.

The ‘high’ Covid alert level bans household mixing in any indoor setting, but people from different households are able to meet outside under the ‘Rule of 6’.

A move to Tier 3 (very high) would also see household mixing banned in private gardens and some other outdoor spaces, while pubs and bars not serving ‘substantial meals’ would have to close.

Leaders in Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland – known collectively as LA7 – have previously stated their opposition to being placed under Tier 3, saying coronavirus cases had stabilised and the NHS locally could cope.

Speaking on Wednesday, October 28, Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon said the strictest rules would not help the region as new cases are coming from care homes and schools – not hospitality.

He said: “When you analyse the cases there is issues around care homes and schools.

“Inside schools kids are being managed, there are one way systems and they are keeping people in bubbles.

“But you have just got to drive past a school at 3.15pm to see what’s happening, kids are coming out of one social bubble and mixing on buses, that’s where we need to concentrate.

“Tier 3 measures don’t address where the problem is. We’re asking for support around residential homes, around transport to and from schools.

“I am expecting at some stage we will be dragged into a meeting with the chief medical officer where we will argue that point.”

Nottinghamshire is the next location set to move into Tier 3 restrictions on Friday, October 30.

It joins Liverpool City region, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, South Yorkshire and Warrington in Cheshire.

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