CRITICAL CAPITAL
London lockdown: Capital’s boroughs ‘face ban on households mixing within DAYS’ as parts look set for new rules
SOME Londoners could be banned from mixing with other households within days as areas of the capital face new lockdown rules.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce the new three-tiered local lockdown system in the Commons later today, after warning the Cabinet that the nation stands at a "critical juncture" in the fight against Covid-19.
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The measures are seen as a last roll of the dice to avoid a nationwide "circuit breaker" shutdown over half-term at the end of the month.
Boris will announce the new staggered lockdown system in a press conference tonight - with Tier 3 bringing the toughest new rules, and Tier 1 areas continuing with current restrictions such as Rule of Six and social distancing.
Parts of London could be slapped with new rules - or plunged into Tier 2 - which could mean a ban on households mixing indoors after the number of coronavirus cases in the capital hit more than 7,700 a week.
Households may only be able to socialise in gardens but with a maximum of six people and the measures could be rolled out by the end of this week.
According to the , community leaders in the capital are discussing travel being limited to "only essential" trips at some point.
Recent data shows that five boroughs - Richmond, Hackney, Ealing, Redbridge and Harrow - are over 100 new cases per 100,000 population in the week to October 8.
It comes as Liverpool looks certain to be plunged into a Tier 3 lockdown tonight - with Manchester and parts of Yorkshire also on the brink.
Tier Three households will not be allowed to mix either indoors or outdoors. Pubs and bars will also close in those areas, but it is understood restaurants will continue serving food until 10pm.
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Areas in Tier Two will face a household ban indoors and continue to follow measures set out in Tier One including social distancing, the "rule of six" and pubs closing at 10pm. Offices and schools will remain open.
Other areas across the UK which look set to feature in Tier 2 are parts of the North East, West Yorkshire and Birmingham.
On Saturday, an extraordinary lobbying race erupted with several councils scrambling to be placed in higher tiers.
Some London boroughs wanted to be placed into Tier 2 rather than Tier 1 as council leaders fear that they are only weeks behind the north of England, The Sunday Times reported.
Mayor Sadiq Khan warned last week that the capital is at a "tipping point" in the fight against coronavirus - despite research showing the city's infection rate is falling.
Imperial College scientists revealed that the R rate had fallen below 1 in London.
But Mr Khan told LBC: "We are at a very serious tipping point. This virus is accelerating in every part of London."
The Mayor expected that restrictions would be introduced in the coming week and urged Londoners to prepare for their arrival.
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Last week, Richmond was reported as being the capital's new coronavirus hotspot.
The South West London borough was said to have highest infection rate in the capital, with 112.1 new cases per 100,000 people.
However, Richmond Council called for an urgent review of the Government's data before any measures are put in place.
The council claimed that at least a quarter of the reported cases were students testing positive in other parts of the country such as Manchester, Leeds, Exeter and Durham.
It argued that the rise in cases was down to students testing positive who have moved from their London home, but still have a home address in the capital.
Almost all of the London boroughs have seen a rise in recent weeks.
At the London Assembly on Wednesday, Mr Khan said Redbridge, Newham and Tower Hamlets were areas of concern in the capital, and he also noted the rising infection rates in Richmond.
This is still much lower than the high-risk areas in northern England that look set to enter more severe restrictions.
STRICTER MEASURES
Liverpool recorded the second-highest infection rate in the country in the two weeks to October 4.
There were 4,953 confirmed cases, or 928.2 per 100,000 people.
The neighbouring council area of Knowsley was top, with 1,412 cases and an infection rate of 944.
The Liverpool City Region is expected to enter the strictest tier of restrictions - Tier Three - which will see a ban on different households mixing but pubs, leisure facilities, casinos and bookmakers will be required to close.
Residents in the highest risk regions will only be able to leave their home for essential travel such as work, education or health reasons, and must return that day.
Overnight stays will also be forbidden in Covid hotspots.
The restrictions are expected to be in place for four weeks and will be under review throughout. It's feared that they could be in place for a total of six months.
Steve Rotheram, mayor of the City Region, last night stressed that no agreement had yet been finalised with the Government.
"Government have been clear from the start that they plan on placing the Liverpool City Region in tier three and plan on announcing this tomorrow," he said.
"No agreement has yet been reached on this point and negotiations are ongoing."
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The restrictions could also hit Greater Manchester, parts of Yorkshire and the North East of England.
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