FEARS MORE TIERS
Tough new Covid tier system looms with possible Tier 4 to close whole regions after lockdown ends
THE COVID tier system could be ripped up - with the possibility of even higher levels being brought in after lockdown ends.
Boris Johnson has stressed England will return to a local lockdown approach from after December 2, but fears have grown over a potential "Tier 4" which could mimic the current shutdown.
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The three-tiered system introduced by the Government earlier this year - but ditched during England's month-long shut down - meant more than a fifth of the country was placed under the toughest Tier Three rule.
And millions more found themselves under a Tier Two lockdown which bans households from mixing and meeting up indoors.
Insiders have hinted that these tiers could look very different after the national shutdown, saying ministers had not explicitly said the tiers would be exactly the same.
But other sources have played down the prospect of a Tier 4.
Mr Johnson has said he will lay out the regional approach that will replace the lockdown the week before it ends on December 2.
One source told The Telegraph there was a "high probability" the Government would begin putting entire regions under a set of restrictions - rather than individuals cities or council areas like at the moment.
The source said: “There is a desire to simplify the system, and having lots of different tiers within a relatively small area can be confusing. A region by region approach certainly makes a lot of sense.
“What we are worried about more than anything else is compliance. It would be better to have a good system that everyone followed than a perfect system that everyone ignored.
“Lots of people are talking about ignoring the rules over Christmas, so it’s clear that fatigue is setting in.
“We have to design a system that makes sense to people and that they will be willing to follow.”
It comes as:
- Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van Tam has said he would be first in line for a vaccine if he was allowed
- Brits could have three different vaccines available by Christmas as hopes grow that they pass safety checks and can be rolled out tot eh nation
- The number of Covid deaths hit 532 yesterday - the highest daily toll in 6 months
- People who test positive for coronavirus could have a three month "freedom pass" after their isolation, an adviser to the Gov suggested
The tweaked tier system means parts the North - which faced the toughest restrictions before lockdown - are likely to be plunged into drastic shutdowns after December 2.
Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty has previously warned even "base line" Tier Three restrictions would not be enough to stop the growing number of coronavirus cases.
Previously Tier Three just saw pubs which don't serve food have to shut - but the nationwide lockdown has forced all non-essential businesses to close up.
There are fears this could be a part of a possible Tier Four.
Fears have grown of further shutdowns too after Chancellor Rishi Sunak has extended the furlough scheme until March over fears of businesses being forced to close.
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Matt Hancock said yesterday areas may not be under the same rules they were under before lockdown.
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, Mr Hancock said: “The more that we can do to get these infection rates down during lockdown, of course the easier it will be to get out of it and places can get out in lower tiers.”
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One Whitehall source told the Telegraph: “It seems likely as things stand that an extra tier will be introduced, whether that is called 'Tier Four' or 'Tier Three Plus'.
“It would mean we could keep pubs and restaurants closed in the top tier, then areas would come down through the tiers as the infection rates come down.
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“But nothing has been decided yet. These discussions are still at an early stage.”
A spokesperson for No10 has refused to rule out even more lockdowns in the future.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock states that NHS staff will be able to get a coronavirus test twice weekly
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