‘Covid won’t take a day off’: Christmas warning as Hull placed in Tier 3
RESTRICTIONS: Hull will be in Tier 3 when the national lockdown ends. Picture by Tom Arran Commercial Photography
City council leader Steve Brady has today urged the people of Hull to put safety ahead of celebrations over the Christmas period.
His message comes as it was confirmed Hull will be placed in Tier 3, with the highest level of Covid-19 restrictions, when the current national lockdown ends on December 2.
Although the city’s infection rate is dropping, from a peak of 785 cases per 100,000 of the population on November 16 to 530 today, it remains ones of the highest in the country.
Councillor Brady has warned that while mixing of households over the festive period may be permitted when the Government lifts the tier system on December 23, people’s primary concern should still be on their safety and that of their family, friends and colleagues.
“Tier 3 is not where anyone wants to be but, with our infection rates still very high, it is what we expected and it is the right place for Hull to be at this time”, he said.
“I want to thank all of our residents and businesses for the efforts they are making to follow the national restrictions. They are making a difference. Our rates are falling every day and didn’t reach the peak we feared at one point. Although we are entering Tier 3 on December 2, we have shown that, by following the advice, we can bring our infection rates down.
“I understand that everyone is tired of restrictions and changing advice. This is a very difficult time and we would all like it to be over. What the last few weeks have shown is that, if we can continue to do all we can to minimise spreading the virus, we can continue to bring the rate down and, hopefully, move towards an easing of restrictions.
“Rather than asking how much we’re allowed to do under the restrictions, we should ask what carries the least risk – what is the safest amount to do.
“As we approach Christmas and New Year, we all need to consider how to celebrate safely. The Government has announced its plans to some ease some restrictions and allow families to meet on a limited basis between December 23 and 27, but the virus will not be taking a day off.
“Even if we are permitted to do something, we must ask ourselves ‘is it worth the risk?’ Of course, many local people have already had to stay apart for traditionally big family celebrations – Diwali fell right in the middle of these national restrictions.
“I understand how hard this is but, unless it is really necessary, and you can do it safely, we all need to think about whether it is better to protect each other for now and enjoy meeting up when we can do it more safely”.
‘ASK WHAT CARRIES THE LEAST RISK’: City council leader Steve Brady. Picture by Tom Arran Commercial Photography
Under Tier 3:
All hospitality will close except for delivery, takeaway and drive-through
Hotels and other accommodation providers must close (except for specific exemptions, including people staying for work purposes or where they cannot return home)
Indoor entertainment venues must also close
Places of worship remain open but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies
Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies but wedding receptions are not allowed; 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies; 15 people can attend linked commemorative events
Organised outdoor sport and physical activity and exercise classes can continue; however, higher-risk contact activity should not take place
Organised sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s.
Coun Brady has already taken the unprecedented step of writing to all households in the city, warning of the “very real and awful situation” Hull may face if people do not follow the guidance to help drive down infection rates.
In the letter, dated November 17, he said restrictions for Hull were expected to remain “severe”.