Yahoo News ‘Making it up as they go along’: Mayor of Liverpool lambasts curfew delay as coronavirus rates soar
The mayor of Liverpool has lambasted the decision for new coronavirus restrictions not to come into force in the city until Tuesday – despite cases already surging there.
New rules announced on Friday will ban different households from mixing and prevent pubs, restaurants and other leisure venues from opening beyond 10pm.
But Councillor Anderson expressed astonishment that despite infection rates now soaring to 106.4 cases per 100,000 people there, the government said new measures would not be implemented for more than half a week.
“They make it up as they go along,” he said.
In the broadside, he called ministers “out of touch” and suggested there had been a lack of communication over the new decision.
"We have no idea why they are waiting until Tuesday for these measures to be brought in,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “Our infection levels are really high now.
“We've been predicting this was coming for the past few weeks as our levels rose, sadly too many people have not stuck to the rules.
"We can't afford any increases to those levels, so we are worried about this weekend and what people might do.
"My message to everyone is that this isn't someone else's problem, it is all of our problem – it could be your mum, dad or nan that gets ill.”
The new measures were among a raft of tightened restrictions across the north of England and the Midlands – all announced on Friday but delayed until Tuesday.
Areas affected include Lancashire, parts of West Yorkshire, Wolverhampton and a chunk of Leicestershire.
The northeast had already had new measures implemented the day before. Reports suggest Greater Manchester – where there have already been restrictions since the end of July – will face even tougher new measures next week.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "These decisions have been made in close collaboration with local leaders, with many requesting restrictions to help prevent further increase.”
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