New Covid-19 restrictions to be announced tomorrow for Leeds but local leaders are still in the dark

Tomorrow the Prime Minister is expected to announce the Local Covid Alert Level system for managing the pandemic, comprising a tier system with three levels of measures depending on the impact of the virus in each area.

Tier 3 will have the most severe restrictions, which will likely include measures similar to the original national lockdown rules, including no contact with anyone outside their household and the closure of pubs and restaurants.

Tier 2 could have measures similar to the restrictions currently in force across Leeds, meaning no mixing of households in places like pubs, homes and gardens.

And tier 1, which would have the most relaxed restrictions, is likely to be along the lines of current national guidelines, which include social distancing and the “rule of six” - meeting up in groups of no more than six people.

However, the three-tier system - or traffic light system, as some people are calling it - has not yet been formally announced and it is unclear what the exact specifications will be.

In a rare move, Mr Johnson is holding a telephone conference with Cabinet members today.

Asked by Sophy Ridge on Sky News if local leaders would be given more control over test-and-trace efforts, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: "Yes, we want to work very closely with the local mayors and with the councils.

"We are going to be ensuring that the national testing infrastructure... works in harmony with what's happening locally.

"Because local councils and local communities are very good at contact tracing."

Downing Street is reportedly seeking to have more buy-in from local leaders for these measures after previously being criticised for a lack of communication, which saw councils and mayors finding out about local restrictions through the press or social media.

As recently as this weekend, leaders across the north of England also criticised the Government’s approach to tighter lockdown measures, saying its economic package for businesses that needed to close because of new restrictions would cause “hardship”.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), made up of leaders from across the county including Leeds, wrote to the prime minister on Friday evening, stating its concern over “rumours in the media that we might be pushed into Level 3 of a new system set to be introduced, without any discussion or consultation”.

The WYCA said: “We have been informed that next week the Government is reviewing the restrictions in place across West Yorkshire. To avoid further measures being put in place we will need to ensure social distancing, self-isolation and other measures are being followed, and we have made clear that to do this effectively we need more support for our communities.”