Is Atherstone about to enter Tier Four? Town waits for latest Covid announcement

The latest decision by the UK Government over tier allocations is set to take place today (Wednesday, December 30) as Health Secretary Matt Hancock will be addressing the commons this afternoon.

Almost 40% of the nation's population already find themselves in Tier Four 'Stay at Home,' the toughest level of local restrictions, and Atherstone and the rest of Warwickshire remain waiting as to whether local measures are to be escalated.

The county has been in Tier Three 'Very High' risk, since the end of the second national lockdown, meaning that eateries, pubs and restaurants have largely been closed.

Warwickshire has been aligned with Solihull and Coventry for the latest regional reviews, both of which were in local lockdowns before November.

What are the current Covid rates in Atherstone?

Public Health England statistics show that in the seven days before December 24 the rate of infections in the North Warwickshire district was 197.7 per 100,000 people. This has slowly been on the increase since a low of 119.5 in the seven days before December 3.

The average of Warwickshire as a county in the week before Christmas was 247.43, with Rugby (358.93) and Nuneaton and Bedworth (263.1) boroughs both higher than the south of the county.

Warwickshire's neighbours in Coventry and Solihull also have higher rates of infection. Coventry had a rate of 251.94 per 100,000 in the seven days up to December 24, and Solihull 260.66.

How does this compare to other areas?

Essex, London, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, and much of the south east already find themselves under Tier Four restrictions. In Essex in the seven days before December 23 the rate of infections was 849.6 per 100,000, and today a 'Major Incident' was declared in the region to help stop the spread of infection.

In London during the same seven days infection rates were recorded as 814 per 100,000 people.

Daily hospital intakes also show a difference between the Midlands and areas currently in Tier Four. In the Midlands daily hospital intakes have hovered between 300 and 400 for much of December, whilst in London rates have been over 500 since the middle of the month.

In Liverpool, currently in Tier Two, infection rates were 189 per 100,000 in the seven days before Christmas - the region has seen an increasing trend in cases since rates fell to below 100 at the end of November.

As such, on the face of the statistics it would appear that Atherstone and the rest of Warwickshire are more aligned with Tier Two areas in terms of the current number of cases and hospital intake.

However, as the new Covid strain has been reported to be up to 70% more transmissible, and cases appear to be on the increase, the likelihood of Atherstone moving down a tier is far lower than it is for the region being escalated.

The BBC reported this morning that there it is likely the West Midlands and Hartlepool will be escalated.

What are the rules in Tier Four?

Tier Four 'Stay at Home' was introduced by the UK Government in the week before Christmas, and imposes much stricter local restrictions.

The following rules apply to Tier Four areas:

- Residents should stay at home, unless they have a "reasonable excuse" such as work or education

- All non-essential shops must close

- Hairdressers and nail bars must close

- Indoor entertainment venues must close

- Gyms and indoor swimming pools, indoor sports courts and dance studios must close

- You cannot meet other people indoors, unless you live with them or they are part of your support bubble

- People should not leave tier four areas or travel abroad, except for limited reasons (including work and education)

- Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are only allowed in exceptional circumstances

- Meeting one other person from another household in an open public space, if you are both alone is allowed

- Shopping for essentials such as food and medicine is allowed

- Outdoor pools, playgrounds, sports courts, golf courses and horse riding centres can open

- Communal religious worship is allowed

- Support bubbles are still allowed and children can move between separated parents Atherstone and the rest of Warwickshire will have to wait until this afternoon to see whether any changes to the current rules are to be enforced.