More areas moved to Tier 4 as virus surges

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has placed many more millions of people in England under Tier 4 restrictions.

From midnight tonight, all of north-east England, Cumbria, Cheshire, Warrington, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen, most of West Midlands, all of the East Midlands except Rutland and large parts of South West will be placed into Tier 4.

Liverpool, Rutland, all of Yorkshire and Humber, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and large parts of South West including Cornwall will be placed into Tier 3.

Only the Isles of Scilly will remain in Tier 1.

This means that three quarters of the English population will be under Tier 4 restrictions.

Hancock said: “It is absolutely necessary to take these measures because of number of cases we have seen. Today is a day of mixed emotions; we have the Joy of the new [Astra Zeneca] vaccine, but sorrow in the deaths that this virus this has caused. We end 2020 with great challenges but with great hope that we have a better 2021 ahead.”

Hancock added that 530,000 doses of the new vaccine will be available to the UK from Monday.

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