The Government has announced that Hull will be under High alert level restrictions from 00:01, Saturday 31st October, moving us from Tier 1 to Tier 2.
Hull has experienced a sharp increase in COVID positive cases. In Kingston-Upon-Hull, weekly case rates stand at 248 people per 100,000. We have also seen an increase in hospital admissions, which underlines the need for these further restrictions.
These restrictions include no meeting socially indoors with family or friends outside of your immediate household or support bubble, and outdoor socialising limited to a group of six. It also means whilst pubs and restaurants can stay open, you can only attend indoors with your own household. Weddings and funerals are still permitted, with restrictions.
Children who are subject to shared parental care can continue to spend time with both parents. The government have not updated their guidance around visiting of grandparents.
Further details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-level-high.
My view is that the restrictions are not strong enough to have a significant effect on driving down the R rate locally and are disproportionately difficult for the hospitality sector. I am also deeply frustrated that despite higher levels of deprivation, Hull is to receive the same level of additional support as the East Riding. I made have made that clear to government Ministers and will continue to fight for a fair deal for Hull.
Alongside a full package of economic support for jobs and businesses, Labour is calling for a national 2-3 week circuit breaker to sort the problems in test, track and trace and to get control of this virus. The Prime Minister has not acted decisively and has failed to take advantage of the half-term break. He knows he will have to impose harsher restrictions. We can’t wait for Boris Johnson to catch up – he must act now.
We are at a critical moment, and something must be done sooner rather than later. This is not a decision that has been taken lightly; the data indicates that without significant action, rates in our city will continue to climb, putting all of us, our loved ones and particularly the more vulnerable among us at risk.
This pandemic has reminded us of what this city is best at – looking out for our neighbours and working together, so I urge everyone in East Hull to follow the guidance, reduce further spread of the virus, to protect the NHS, and protect each other.
