13 Oct 2020

The prime minister has announced a new three-tier system of restrictions in England to try to stop the spread of coronavirus with St Helens, along with the rest of the Liverpool City Region, placed in Tier Three - Very High.

The Liverpool City Region (Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, Wirral, St Helens and Halton) - are placed in Tier Three and will have the following additional restrictions from Wednesday 14 October:

  • Pubs and bars will be closed, except where serving substantial meals
  • Different households cannot mix indoors or outdoors
  • Gyms, leisure centres, betting shops and casinos will also close
  • Shops, schools and universities will remain open.

Residents in Tier Three are also advised against travel outside the affected areas, except for things like work, education and transit journeys.  They are also advised against overnight stays in other parts of the UK.

Every area in England will be classified as being on medium, high or very high alert - tiers one, two and three.

Areas with the lowest rates of infection are placed in Tier One and face the basic national rules currently in force including:

  • Pubs, bars and restaurants will have to close at 22:00 BST
  • The rule of six (number of people who can meet up) applies both indoors and outdoors.

Areas in Tier Two (which includes Warrington, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Derbyshire as well as other areas in Yorkshire and the North East) face an extra level of restrictions:

  • No mixing between different households indoors
  • The rule of six only continues outdoors.

Most areas of England which are already subject to local restrictions will be placed in Tier Two - although some places will face additional restrictions for the first time.

The highest level of restrictions are in Tier Three. Areas where transmission is rising most rapidly will be placed in this category.

The full local guidance and restrictions will be available when published on the government website: www.gov.uk/coronavirus  and on the St Helens Council website: www.sthelens.gov.uk/coronavirus along with FAQs.

The latest data  for 13th October shows that there were 700 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in St Helens between 2nd and 8th October.  The seven day rate of infection is 388.8 per 100,000 people.  Currently those in Whiston Hospital who have a Covid-19 infection is 90 - more than double the number last week.

Please ensure you adhere to the latest guidance to keep yourself and others safe, and remember: hands, face, space.