COUNTY health chiefs have welcomed the Government’s grading of Worcestershire as ‘medium’ in the new Coronavirus lockdown system and encouraged residents to help keep the grading at that level.
Worcester will join the rest of the county in seeing no immediate change to the current COVID-19 restrictions, with bars and pubs staying open until the 10pm curfew.
Casinos, gyms and non-essential shops will also remain open but local health bosses have echoed the Government’s reminder to city residents to continue to limit gatherings to six people, the so-called ‘Rule of Six’.
People from separate households may continue to meet with one another as per the current rules as the ‘support bubbles’ will remain possible.
However there are warnings the city could be placed into the ‘high’ category following a rise in cases in Bromsgrove and across Wychavon.
Each area in England has been placed into ‘medium’, ‘high’ and ‘very high’ alert levels under the new restrictions announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday (October 12).
In the high alert level, which will apply to most of the areas already subject to restrictions, household mixing will be banned indoors. Support bubbles will still be permitted, however.
The very high alert level will apply to areas causing the most concern, and social mixing will be prohibited indoors and in private gardens.
Pubs and bars will be closed in the very high alert level areas unless they can operate as a restaurant. People will also be advised against travel in and out of the areas.
Worcestershire’s director for public health, Dr Kathryn Cobain, called on residents to keep up their work keeping the virus rates down.
“This means we have a choice now; we can follow the rule of six, keep washing our hands, wear face coverings and keep our distance and keep Worcestershire safe,” she said.
“If we all do this, we avoid further restrictions and finding our county in the upper tiers of measures. We don’t want that to happen here, and so now is the time to do our utmost to follow the rules.”
