"Devastating" for South Ribble to be left in Tier 3, council leader says

As the Post first revealed earlier this morning, the whole of Lancashire will remain subject to the toughest rules following a government review of the system.

That means hospitality venues will continue to be restricted to takeaway service only and household mixing in all indoor and most outdoor settings will remain banned.

South Ribble is amongst seven of the 14 Lancashire districts which now has a lower rolling seven-day case rate than it did on 26th November, when the first post-lockdown tiering announcement was made. It is also lower than the county average.

However, the case rate in the over-60s population, although falling in recent days, remains slightly above the Lancashire average - 186.3 cases per 100,000 people in that age group, compared to the Lancashire figure of 179.3 and 133.0 England-wide.

That measure was one of the key criteria on which the government based its review.

South Ribble leader Paul Foster said that locals had not been rewarded for their efforts in driving the infection rate down.

“This is devastating for the region. Our businesses have been doing all they can to make sure they are sticking to the rules and making sure their businesses are Covid-safe, and to remain in Tier 3 over the Christmas period will truly be catastrophic for them.

"Our residents, too, have been making the ultimate sacrifice, to not spend time with their loved ones.

“We urged the government to review the case figures and make fair choices and I don’t think this has happened. I’m more than disappointed that the government is not engaging or listening to us, or dealing with the real issues which are causing the virus to spread.

“I say this to our residents and businesses: as a council we are behind you and we will do all we can to support you and to continue to lobby government to change their mind.

“Let’s all do what we can now to get the rates down. Please remember: hands, face, space and hopefully we will be able to reduce our tier at the next review in two weeks’ time," Cllr Foster said.

The Prime Minister said yesterday that the five-day Christmas relaxation of the tiering rules will still go ahead from 23rd December. However, Lancashire's director of public health has urged caution over the permitted mixing between up to three households.

"The virus will not be taking a break for Christmas," Dr. Sakthi Karunanithi said.

COVID CASE RATES

Coronavirus cases per 100,000 of the population in the week to 13th Dec (compared to the day Tier 3 decision was made on 26th Nov) - and in the over-60s age band in the week to 11th Dec.

Blackburn with Darwen

233.1 (down from 286.6)

Over-60s - 234.7

Blackpool

159.2 (down from 168.5)

Over-60s - 187.8

Burnley

318.3 (up from 280.0)

Over-60s - 191.9

Chorley

204.7 (up from 190.3)

Over-60s - 225.8

Fylde

120.1 (down from 157.2)

Over-60s - 103.4

Hyndburn

206.1 (down from 266.5)

Over-60s - 169.8

Lancaster

137.6 (up from 123.9)

Over-60s - 141.3

Pendle

257.3 (down from 293.1)

Over-60s - 194.6

Preston

215.2 (up from 199.8)

Over 60s - 241.4

Ribble Valley

231.6(up from 182.3)

Over-60s - 181.8

Rossendale

221.0 (down from 278.4)

Over-60s - 141.4

South Ribble

167.9 (down from 237.4)

Over-60s - 186.3

West Lancashire

187.2 (up from 113.7)

Over-60s 141.5

Wyre

125.8 (up from 119.5)

Over-60s - 169.5

Lancashire overall case average (week to 13th Dec) - 198.9

England overall case average (week to 13th Dec) - 196.3

Over-60s Lancashire average (week to 11th Dec) - 179.3

Over-60s England average (week to 11th Dec) - 133.0

Source: gov.uk