'High risk' Black Country boroughs to be banned from mixing in pubs under new lockdown rules
People across parts of the region will be banned from meeting their friends in the pub under new restrictions aimed at reducing Covid-19 infection rates.
From Wednesday a ban on households mixing in hospitality venues will apply to people in the Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Solihull and Birmingham boroughs, which have all been classed as "high risk" areas under the Government's new three tier system of alert levels.
"High risk" is the middle of the three tiers, with the less severe "medium" tier applying to most of the country and level three reserved for "very high risk" areas.
People in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Solihull and Birmingham will also be barred from allowing others they do not live with or who are not in their support bubble into their homes - as is already the case under local restrictions in parts of the region.
However, people can now meet outdoors and in private gardens - up to a maximum of six people.
Dudley and Staffordshire have been put in the tier one "medium" category, meaning the current standard national measures apply.
Merseyside was the only part of the country placed at the "very high" alert level, meaning all pubs, bars, gyms, leisure centres, betting shops and casinos will close.
The restrictions will be debated in the Commons on Tuesday before coming into force on Wednesday.
Boris Johnson said the new system was necessary because virus cases had quadrupled over the last three weeks, with more people now in hospital with Covid-19 than there were at the start of the national lockdown on March 23.
Speaking in the Commons, the Prime Minister said he did not believe a second full national lockdown would be "the right course" to take, but he warned against "abandoning the fight" against the virus.
Under the new arrangements:
The medium alert level will cover most of England and will consist of the current national measures, including the rule of six and the 10pm curfew.
The high alert level reflects interventions in many areas subject to local restrictions, preventing mixing between different households indoors.
Most areas which are already subject to local restrictions will automatically move into the high alert category, as well as Nottinghamshire, East and West Cheshire and a small area of High Peak.
The very high alert level will mean, at a minimum, the closure of pubs and bars and a ban on social mixing indoors and in private gardens.
In an appeal to local council leaders, he said: "Work with us on these difficult but necessary measures in the areas that are rated very high areas, in return for: more support for local test and trace, more funding for local enforcement, the offer of help from the armed services, the job support scheme as announced by the Chancellor.
"I believe not to act would be unforgivable, so I hope that rapid progress can be made in the coming days."
The PM said the measures will be "under constant review", and also pledged an extra £1bn support for local councils.
Mayor disappointed at hospitality rules
West Midland Mayor Andy Street, said he was "disappointed" with the ban on households mixing in hospitality venues, which he said was not supported by evidence.
"The main problem in the West Midlands remains transmission within household settings, and stricter measures for the hospitality industry will not solve that," he said.
"I am urging the Government to review this decision as soon as possible.
"In the meantime they must offer financial support to hospitality businesses, which are now set to suffer a loss of income."
Warning against complacency, he added: "Our numbers may be lower than in some other areas, but they are still going up, as are hospital admissions.
"This is no time for complacency and people must continue to follow the guidelines."
Black Country Chamber CEO, Corin Crane, said: "We desperately need government to offer a proper strategy that includes substantial financial support evidence for businesses that may now face devastating restrictions.
"There is an increasing feeling of chaos and confusion with this constant stream of leaked announcements and policy proposals without evidence to back them up. Speculation and rumour have badly eroded trust between Westminster, local government and our business communities."
In the seven days up to October 10 the rate in Wolverhampton was 96.4 per 100,000 people, with 254 cases.
In Dudley it was 71.8 (231 cases). It was 126.8 in Walsall (362), 145.6 in Birmingham (1,662), 111.4 in Sandwell (366) and 94.9 in Staffordshire (835).
