Berwick MP backs tighter restrictions to control spread of coronavirus in Northumberland

Anne-Marie Trevelyan hopes that by taking action now it will be possible to ‘reverse’ the recent increase in cases.

She said: "Yesterday I joined a zoom meeting with the Health Minister Nadine Dorries and Professor Peter Kelly, Director of Public Health for the North East, to discuss new measures which will come into force in our region at midnight tonight.

“The measures have been brought in because Covid-19 cases in some areas of the North East are now very high, especially in Sunderland and Newcastle.

"Although the rates in Northumberland are much lower, they are rising fast so the decision has been taken to include our county in the measures in the hope that we can reverse that trend quickly.

"I will be reviewing figures on a ward level and making the case for wards or areas to be removed from the restricted area as soon as possible.

"I do not want to see these restrictions in place any longer than is necessary and I will be pushing for them to be lifted as soon as case numbers start to decline once more.

"The measures being brought in do not constitute a ‘lockdown’. People will continue to be able to go to work, school, restaurants and cafes and go on holiday. However, there will be tighter restrictions on mixing between households.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement on tighter restrictions after several North East local authorities, including Northumberland County Council, wrote to him calling for the measures.The changes:

There will be no socialising between households allowed, indoors or outdoors. If you have a support bubble (where one person living alone is added to your household) or children under shared custody agreements, those arrangements remain unaffected;

There will be restrictions on the “night time economy”. Bars, pubs, restaurants, cafes, bowling alleys, cinemas, and nightclubs will have to close between 10pm and 5am;

The existing guidance that restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars should offer table service only, will now become a hard and fast rule;

Only essential visits to care homes and hospitals will be allowed;

People should not go on holiday with people from other households.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

If you can, please do pick up a copy when you are at the shops. Thank you for your support.