Rochdale borough to remain in Tier 3

The Rochdale borough will remain in Tier 3 restrictions the government has announced today (Thursday 17 December), following a review by government yesterday.

Whitworth, which is in neighbouring borough Rossendale, will also remain under Tier 3 restrictions.

This means:

• No mixing of households indoors or most outdoor places, apart from support bubbles
• The rule of six applies to some outdoor public places such as parks
• Pubs and restaurants must remain closed, except for delivery and takeaway
• Indoor entertainment venues will remain closed, such as cinemas, casinos and bowling alleys
• Accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must remain closed.
• Avoid travelling in/out of the area except where necessary (eg: work, education, medical attention, youth services or caring responsibilities)
• No overnight stays outside of local area unless necessary (eg: work, education or similar)
• Spectator sports cannot resume
• Wedding receptions are not permitted

Regardless of tier, the following will apply:

• The stay at home requirement will end, with travel being permitted again subject to guidance in each tier
• Shops will reopen - essential and non-essential retailers, including indoor and outdoor markets and car boot sales
• Gyms, leisure centres, fitness and dance studios, golf courses, swimming pools, riding centres, outdoor playgrounds will all reopen (no organised indoor sport or exercise classes under tier 3)
• Personal care and close contact services such as hairdressers and barbers, beauty salons, tattoo parlours, nail salons, spas and beauty services, massage parlours and tanning salons can reopen
• Collective worship can resume, subject to relevant social contact rules in each tier
• Weddings can resume with 15 guests (receptions are not allowed under tier 3)
• Outdoor sports can resume
• People will not be limited to seeing one other person in outdoor public spaces
• The rule of six will apply outdoors
• Everyone who can work from home should
• Early years settings, schools, colleges and universities remain open
• Registered childcare, other supervised activities for children and childcare bubbles permitted

The whole of Greater Manchester has been placed into Tier 3 and in a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Hancock said: "We've seen case rates fall across large parts of England and I know many places in Tier 3 have seen their rates reduce. In most places, we are not quite there yet and the pressures on the NHS remain."
 

Read more: Calls for Tier 2 measures in city-region step upPublished: 11 December 2020

Only three areas have been moved down a tier in this review: Bristol and North Somerset will move from Tier 3 to Tier 2, and Herefordshire will move from Tier 2 into Tier 1. These changes come into effect at 00:01 on Saturday morning (19 December).

A number of areas will move from Tier 2 to Tier 3 on Saturday, including; Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire as well as parts of Cambridgeshire, East Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey.

Tiering allocations will be reviewed every 14 days and the next review is expected to be on 30 December.

You can check the local restrictions in different areas by the postcode search tool on the government web site:

• www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-local-restrictions

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Christmas

It was announced last monht that the coronavirus restrictions will be eased at Christmas in all tiers to allow people to mix with a slightly wider circle of family and friends. Up to three households may form a ‘Christmas bubble’ from 23-27 December.

However, in a press conference this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "We are asking you to think hard and in detail about the days ahead and whether you can do more to protect yourself and others.

"We are keeping the laws the same – but we all want to send the same message: a smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas, and a shorter Christmas is a safer Christmas.

"When we say three households can meet on five days, I want to stress these are maximums, not targets to aim for. And of course it is always going to be safest to minimise the number of people you meet.

"That means that if you are visiting others over Christmas, we are asking you – in the five days beforehand, as early as this Friday - to reduce the number of people you are in contact with to the lowest possible because this virus spreads from human contact."
 

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Vaccinations

The first Covid-19 vaccination was administered in the Rochdale borough on Tuesday 15 December.

At the moment, vaccinations are only available at the council’s Number One Riverside offices in Rochdale town centre.

Patients will be contacted by Rochdale Health Alliance or their GP surgery to receive the vaccine. You must have an appointment to receive the vaccine.

The vaccination is only available through the NHS to eligible groups and it is a free vaccination.

The vaccinations taking place at Number One Riverside is a separate rollout to the vaccinations at hospitals for admitted patients and outpatients in their care.
 

Read more: Borough's first Covid-19 vaccine givenPublished: 16 December 2020