Rossendale enters Tier 3 from midnight

Lancashire, including Rossendale , enters the Tier 3 “Very High Alert Level” for Covid from 00:01 tomorrow. Lancashire’s infection rates are among the highest in the UK, the government says, with a rate of 552 per 100,000 people in the 16-29 age group.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said the area will “stand firm” against plans to move Greater Manchester into Tier 3.

Tier 3 – Very High Covid Alert

This includes prohibiting social mixing in all indoor settings as well as in private gardens.

Different households will be allowed to mix in open public spaces like parks and beaches – but the rule of six will still apply.

A number of businesses will also be forced to close under the new restrictions.

Pubs and bars will be told to close – but they will be allowed to remain open if they operate as if they are a restaurant. That means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal, and only serving alcohol as part of such a meal.

People living in a tier three area will be advised not to travel in and out of these areas. They should also avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK.

Lancashire will face the the following additional restrictions from Monday 19 October:Casinos, bingo halls, bookmakers, betting shops, soft play areas and arcades must close. Car boot sales are not allowed.

More details are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/…/local-covid-alert-levels-what-you…

Shielding is not being re-intoduced at this time . Advice for patients in the very vulnerable category is as follows:

Work from home if possible

Stay at home as much as possible

Avoid all but essential travelReduce shopping trips, and if possible use online delivery or ask people in your household, support bubble or volunteers to collect food and medicines

People in these areas are encouraged to still go outside for exercise, and can still go to school and to work if they cannot work from home

Additional support should be available from local authorities. Shielding advice will not automatically be triggered by an area going into tier three, but shielding may be reintroduced in the future in hotspot areas in exceptional circumstances. If that happens, people at high risk would again be advised to stay at home, not go to work or school and limit social interactions to their own household and support bubble.