Is Leeds going into Tier 3 local lockdown? Everything we know right now as Covid rates change

Currently Leeds is in Tier 2 High Alert local lockdown, which means that household mixing is banned in any indoor setting, while mixing in gardens is legal as long as the rule of six is followed.

But if Leeds moved into Tier 3, mixing in gardens would also be made illegal.

Currently Liverpool, Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and Lancashire are in the 'Very High' Tier 3 Covid level. South Yorkshire moved into Tier 3 level on Saturday, October 24 officially, alongside Manchester.

Reports suggest that the government is eyeing up several other areas which have high Covid rates, in order of most desired to move to Tier 3 next:

- West Yorkshire

- Nottinghamshire

- North East & Teeside

Those are the areas in the north which risk being placed into Tier 3 and which the government is currently in negotiations with.

What is the latest situation for Leeds and West Yorkshire?

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday evening, the Prime Minister confirmed that Greater Manchester would move to the Tier 3 “very high” coronavirus alert level.

Boris Johnson said that conversations are ongoing with local leaders in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and the North East about the possibility of moving to the very high alert level shortly.

Mr Johnson said: “I hope and expect central and local government will continue to work closely together. Ultimately all of us want to protect the NHS and in doing so to save lives.”

Last week, Leeds Council said that Leeds was heading towards Tier 3 as rates continued to rise.

Council chief executive Tom Riordan said: "This is a really pivotal moment for us again and there is a prospect that we could go into Tier 3.

"What we've got to do is make sure we are doing everything that we can, collectively and individually, to make sure that we are getting on top of the virus, and we also expect, from what the Government has said, that we will have very much an equal conversation with them about what needs to happen and when."

In Leeds, 2,933 cases were recorded in the seven days to October 15 - the equivalent of 369.8 cases per 100,000 people.

This is down from a rate of 426.8 in the previous week, so infection rate numbers are coming down right now.

In Nottingham, 2,368 new cases were recorded in the seven days to October 15 – the equivalent of 711.3 cases per 100,000 people.

This is down from 1001.2 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to October 8.

Knowsley has the second highest rate, but this is down from 729.1 to 673.5, with 1,016 new cases.

Liverpool is in third place, where the rate has dropped from 684.7 to 606.6, with 3,021 new cases.

Case rates have also fallen in the cities of Newcastle, Exeter, Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds..

What is the situation in West Yorkshire with Tier 2 or Tier 3?

Currently, West Yorkshire, like Leeds, is also in Tier 2 local lockdown.

At the end of last week, West Yorkshire council leaders said they had had 'no discussion' with government about moving into Tier 3.

But this week council leaders in West Yorkshire are back in discussions, so there could be changes in the near future. Any decisions are going to be based on the financial support the government agrees with the area as well as a close look at the most up-to-date infection rates.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed large parts of the North of England are heading towards Tier 3 lockdown.

At present, only Liverpool and Lancashire have been placed under a ‘very high’ local Covid alert (Tier 3), but several regions risk being subject to the tougher restrictions.

Speaking in the House of Commons on 19 October, the Health Secretary updated MPs on the places in the UK which have been put into Tier 3, and went on to announce a broader list of areas where infection rates are rising.

Mr Hancock confirmed that talks about moving these areas into the very high alert level (Tier 3) have now begun.

Discussions with local leaders in South and West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, the North East and Teeside are ongoing.

Addressing MPs, Mr Hancock said, “Following the successful introduction of measures in Liverpool and Lancashire, talks are continuing this afternoon led by the Communities Secretary with Greater Manchester, and this week further discussions are planned with South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, the North East and Teesside."

The government is also “working hard” to secure a Tier 3 lockdown deal with Greater Manchester, amid fears the region’s intensive care capacity could be overwhelmed with Covid patients within a week.

Currently, the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care in the region is around 40 per cent of that seen at the peak of the first wave, while hospital admissions are doubling every nine days.

What's changed under Tier 2 rules?

- Now household mixing has been banned indoors anywhere. Before, you could mix households in pubs and restaurants. This is now illegal. You cannot mix households of any size indoors anywhere (apart from the exceptions below).

Police are able to fine people breaking lockdown Tier 2 restrictions up to £10,000

- Outdoor mixing was banned, but is now legal again. You can meet in a private garden or in an outdoor setting (a street, a field) as long as you keep to the rule of 6 (groups no larger than six) and maintain social distancing.

All the previous rules still apply. So there is a 10pm curfew, the rule of 6, face masks in shops, and social distancing still in effect.

What is Tier 3? Very High Alert Level:

- Tier 3 restrictions mean that pubs, bars, gyms, casinos and adult gaming centres must be immediately shut - on top of all the Tier 2 rules remaining in place.

- The exception is that restaurants, and pubs serving 'predominantly food' can remain open.

- Household mixing remains banned and mixing in private gardens is also banned as well

- Only some public spaces such as parks and beaches allow household mixing, and then the rule of six must still be followed

-> These are the exceptions to new Tier 2 and Tier 3 household mixing ban