Harborough To Face Tier 3 Covid-19 Restrictions

Harborough and the whole of Leicestershire is to face the highest Covid-19 restrictions when the national lockdown ends.

From Wednesday, the county will move to Tier 3 restrictions, meaning people won’t be able to meet indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble.

Pubs, cafes and restaurants will have to stay closed.

Non-essential shops will be allowed to re-open along with gyms and leisure centre.

The restriction will mean:

• you must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble, including private gardens or at most outdoor venues
• rule of six applies to some outdoor public spaces, including parks, countryside accessible to the public and public gardens
• essential and non-essential shops will be open
• gyms and leisure centres will be open
• pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed unless they are offering takeaway, click-and-collect or delivery services

The Government’s rationale for placing the following areas in the East Midlands into Tier 3 is as follows:

Leicester and Leicestershire: “Improvements have been seen in overall case rates in all but one lower tier local authority, but remain very high at 355 per 100,000, including in over 60s at 250 per 100k. The pressure on the local NHS remains very high.”

Although Covid-19 rates have dropped locally over the past few days, figures for Harborough and the county as a whole remain above the national average.

Harborough’s rate for every 100,000 people is 298 – compared to England’s figure of 218.

Harborough MP Neil O’Brien has given his reaction to today’s announcement to Hfm:

Mike Sandys, Leicestershire County Council’s director of public health, said: “Over the past few days, rates have started to fall and we’ve made some progress. But it’s important to put this into perspective. Figures are over 20 per cent down compared to this time last week but they’re still worse than the day we went into lockdown. Leicestershire’s average is significantly higher than the national level so there is still work to do.

“Whatever the level, it’s still vital we all do the right thing. There could be tough times ahead in January so let’s not undo the good work so far.”

Northamptonshire has been placed in Tier 2, meaning similar restrictions, although pubs can re-open if operating as a restaurant.

Tier allocations will be reviewed every two weeks.