A new tiered lockdown system is set to be announced today.
Birmingham has successfully dodged a ‘Tier 3’ lockdown, it has officially been confirmed – with residents of Birmingham set to be placed on Tier 2 later tonight following the Prime Minister’s TV address at 7pm. The news comes following a call with Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier today, in which it was explained where Birmingham and the West Midlands currently stood in the impending tiering system.
Just learnt on the briefing call with @MattHancock that Birmingham will be in Tier 2 on the new alert system.
More than 45 minutes notice for the call would be appreciated next time though Matt!
— Preet Kaur Gill MP (@PreetKGillMP) October 12, 2020
Announcing via Twitter this afternoon, Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill said: “Just learnt on the briefing call with Matt Hancock that Birmingham will be in Tier 2 on the new alert system.
“More than 45 minutes notice for the call would be appreciated next time though Matt!”
After increasing resistance from the hospitality industry, the region has avoided being subject to the government’s toughest restrictions – with reports that Liverpool will be one of few cities placed on Tier 3.
Being placed into Tier 2 High band is a disappointment , especially when Wolverhampton has worked very hard to tackle home based transmission. Our fight will continue.
— CllrIanBrookfieldCWU (@CllrIBrookfield) October 12, 2020
However, not all local leaders were impressed with the Tier 2 announcement. Councillor Ian Brookfield, a leader for Wolverhampton City Council, said: “Being placed into Tier 2 High band is a disappointment especially when Wolverhampton has worked very hard to tackle home based transmission. Our fight will continue.”
Here’s what the new tier means for Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull and Wolverhampton residents:
- Mixing with other households indoors is not allowed, including homes, plus indoor hospitality, leisure and retail.
- Gatherings of six are permitted outdoors only, including private gardens as long as social distancing is followed.
Tier 1 allows for a little more leeway, with only the rule of six applying both indoors and outdoors, and the 10pm curfew remaining in place for hospitality businesses. Tier 3, the toughest tier, will see the closure of pubs, restaurants and gyms, with non-essential travel banned, overnight stays banned in lockdown areas, and complete bans on social contact with other households.