Leeds & Bradford to REMAIN IN TIER 3

Updated 30 Dec 2020
Statement following government announcement that Leeds will stay in tier 3

Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council, said:

“Given the current regional and national picture regarding coronavirus, we anticipated that the government would make the decision to keep Leeds and the West Yorkshire region in tier 3 today.

“As a council we will be continuing to press the city’s case to government for further meaningful assistance to be made available, whilst doing everything in our power to support local businesses and provide help to our most vulnerable residents.

“The recent rise in rates seen in Leeds does underline how critical it is that we continue to work extremely hard to keep ourselves and each other safe. It is vitally important that at this crucial moment we follow strictly the guidance in place if we are to reduce transmission. I urge everyone therefore to please continue to take the steps that are required in terms of social distancing, washing hands and wearing face masks.

“The news today that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for use in the UK is extremely positive and a very welcome step in the fight against coronavirus. With our partners in the NHS and West Yorkshire region, we are continuing to move forward with our plans to deliver a major rollout of vaccinations in Leeds from next week.”

Notes to editors:

Since the start of the pandemic Leeds City Council has distributed £170m to local businesses and made the decision earlier this month to extend funding schemes into the New Year.

A brief overview of the Tier 3 guidelines are:

• 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, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues
• you must not socialise in a group of more than six in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the ‘rule of 6’
• hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.

If you need any information about what the guidelines are for Tier 3 you can find them on the gov.uk website.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “The Government has announced today that Bradford District will stay in Very High (Tier 3) restrictions.  I want to thank everyone in the district for all you are doing to keep the infection rate down.

“The new variant of COVID-19 is however even more infectious and is already in the district. I urge everyone to continue to follow the guidelines rigorously.  We know just how quickly this virus can spread.  The easing of restrictions that the Government allowed over the Christmas period could cause the infection rates to rise again. We all know people who have died before their time or been seriously ill with this virus.  None of us want to go back to high levels of infection, it is so distressing for our communities and puts our hospitals under tremendous strain.

Please don’t travel outside the Bradford District unless it’s essential. Many areas outside our boundaries have faster rising rates of infection and by reducing non essential journeys we reduce the risk of potentially bringing and spreading the virus further. For all our sakes please wash your hands regularly, wear a face covering and stay 2 metres apart.

“If we can keep going with the Hands, Face, Space guidance until the roll out of the vaccine then we will prevent more deaths and can return to a more normal life in 2021.”

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Updated 17th December 2020.

Matt Hancock announced in The House of Commons the areas which will go down to Tier 2 and this did not include Leeds or Bradford.

Updates from Leeds & Bradford Councils expected soon.

Leeds & Bradford, along with the rest of West Yorkshire, will continue to remain in Tier 3 (very high alert) restrictions.

The announcement made by Government today will see Tier 3 restrictions continue in these areas. These include:

• People must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody they do not live with, or who is not in their support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues.
• People must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the ‘rule of 6’.
• Weddings can go ahead with a maximum of15 people attending. Wedding receptions are not allowed.
• Burials in Council Cemeteries are allowed with a maximum of 30 mourners with appropriate social distancing observed.
• Funerals can be attended by up to 15 people and they must maintain proper social distancing.
• There should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place.
• Travelling should be avoided to other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities.
• People can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey.

The following venues will remain closed:

• Hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.
• Accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training.
• Indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close.
• Indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close.

The following will be open:

• Leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead.
• Large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events.
• Organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however, higher-risk contact activity should not take place.
• Places of worship remain open, but people must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside of their household or support bubble while there.

As part of the national restrictions, residents are asked to stay at home with a limited set of exemptions:

• Only leave home for food, medical reasons, exercise, education, work, to care for a vulnerable person or in case of an emergency. When shopping for essentials please consider shopping at off peak times (evenings not weekends).
• To visit others in a support bubble
• Work from home if possible
• Avoid travel unless essential.

Residents are reminded to continue to:

• wear a face covering where needed
• follow social distancing rules
• work from home if possible
• reduce, where possible, the number of journeys made.

Anyone displaying coronavirus symptoms – of a new continuous cough, high temperature or loss of taste or smell – is urged to get a test by accessing local testing or by visiting nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119.

The local testing service is available from Monday to Friday and bookings for appointments can be made at www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test

Those without symptoms (asymptomatic) should not be seeking a test unless they have been advised to do so by a health professional, Public Health England or the Council’s public health teams – it could take a test away from someone who really needs it.