It has been confirmed that Hull will enter tier 3 of coronavirus restrictions, the highest level, when current national measures end on Wednesday December 2.
Whilst the situation is improving, with the infection rate dropping from a peak of 785 cases per 100,000 of the population on November 16, when it was the highest in the country, to 530 today, it still remains extremely high.
Councillor Stephen Brady, Leader of Hull City Council, warned that, while mixing of households over the festive period may be permitted under government proposals, 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’s 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, 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”.
From December 2, in Hull and all areas of the country, regardless of tier, the following will apply:
- the stay at home requirement will end, with domestic and international travel being permitted again subject to guidance in each tier
- shops, personal care, gyms and the wider leisure sector will reopen
- collective worship, weddings and outdoor sports can resume, subject to tier restrictions
- people will no longer be limited to seeing only one other person in outdoor public spaces – the rule of six will now apply as it did in the previous set of tiers
Under Tier 3, which will be in place in Hull:
- 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, 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 indoor 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
- Full details of Tier 3 and all other tiers can be found here
For daily Coronavirus statistics, information and guidance including local support available, visit hull.gov.uk.
