Leeds Tier 3 lockdown: Leeds to move into Tier 3 as council release statement

Leeds is set to move in to a Tier 3 lockdown on Monday, Leeds council announced tonight.
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Leeds and the rest of West Yorkshire will be moving into Tier 3 (Very High) restrictions as of Monday November 2.

The council said "this is not something that West Yorkshire Leaders have agreed to lightly", as they know "it will impact on many people, communities and businesses across Leeds".

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A package worth an additional £59.3m has been secured by council leaders to begin to help support West Yorkshire through this time.

Leeds city centreLeeds city centre
Leeds city centre

This funding is made up of a one-off additional amount of £20 per head.

For, West Yorkshire this is estimated to be worth £46.6m in additional funding to support businesses.

A total of £8 per head has also been secured to support enhanced test and trace and contain measures, resulting in an additional £12.7m.

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In a letter released following the announcement, leader of the council Judith Blake & Tom Riordan, CEO, said: "Crucially, we have ensured that this is in addition to the existing business grant arrangements previously announced by the Chancellor.

"This is a major policy shift from government that will now benefit all the authorities that enter into Tier Three.

"Moving into Tier 3 signals the seriousness of the situation and will hopefully encourage everyone to reduce contact to help break the chain of transmission.

"Let’s push our mantra that we need more people, to do more of the right thing, more of the time, because they choose to.

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"Let’s hold each other to account for our actions to help minimise transmission, so that we can all get back to some sort of normal as soon as we can."

The seven day average infection rate is 416 per 100,000 in Leeds, the council said.

On September, 9 just over 6 weeks ago, the 7 day rolling average rate for Leeds was 73.6.

The council said that every ward in the city now has a rate of over 200, with more than half the wards over 400.

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This "shows that widespread and dynamic transmission" of Covid, the letter continued.

The council said the rate of increase in the over 60 age group is concerning, as is the rise in cases in care homes and the significant rise in the number of Covid cases in hospital.

The number of Covid patients in Leeds hospitals now exceeds the number of cases in hospital in April during the national lockdown, with the additional pressure of trying to maintain other priority services.

NHS services across the city are busy and we need to do all we can do to protect these vital services.

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Judith Blake and Tom Riordan concluded the letter by thanking Leeds residents.

They said: "Thank you for everything you all continue to do to support the city and to keep our communities safe.

"It’s only by everyone doing their bit that we will beat this virus and get life back to normal, where we can do the things we enjoy."

What's changed under Tier 3 rules?

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

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- 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 - Police are able to fine people breaking lockdown Tier 2 restrictions up to £10,000 for a large breach

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- 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.

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

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