Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire will move into Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions, it has been confirmed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the move to tougher COVID-19 measures in Greater Manchester yesterday (October 20) after talks with local leaders ended without a deal. The area will enter tier 3 restrictions this Friday.
South Yorkshire will enter tier 3 restrictions on Saturday 24 October, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region Dan Jarvis has confirmed. The restrictions will cover all four local authority areas – Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield.
Moving into Tier 3 – the top alert level, called “very high” – means that pubs and bars in Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire must close, unless they serve substantial meals, alongside casinos, betting shops, bingo halls, gyms and soft play areas.
Different households will also be banned from mixing indoors and outdoors, including in private gardens.
Concerning Greater Manchester’s move into Tier 3 restrictions, Mr Johnson said: “I bitterly regret any restrictions that lead to damage to business and people’s lives.
“Nobody wants to put people in Greater Manchester through the experience they have been.
“Andy Burnham is right in what he says about the length of endurance Greater Manchester has shown. The £22 million, that is additional to other support.
“This is a Government that has put 190 billion already into supporting business and jobs across the country we are investing huge sums of money to support local authorities and another £1 billion.
“Greater Manchester will have ‘access to all kinds of funds.”
Mayor of the Sheffield City Region Dan Jarvis said: “Following extensive discussions with Ministers, local council leaders and I have agreed with Government that South Yorkshire will move into Tier 3, the ‘very high’ alert level for coronavirus restrictions.
“The restrictions will come into force from 00:01 on Saturday 24 October and cover all four local authority areas – Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
“We all recognise the gravity of the situation and have taken the responsible route to ensure we save lives and livelihoods, and protect our NHS.”
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