Northeast lockdown: New coronavirus restrictions announced after spike in cases
More than 1.5 million people across the north-east of England have been placed under new coronavirus restrictions after cases across the region rose dramatically there.
Members of different households will be banned from socialising and pubs and restaurants will have to shut by 10pm under the new measures announced on Thursday morning after Covid-19 cases tripled in the region in three weeks.
The restrictions – the most strenuous Covid-19 rules implemented since the national lockdown in spring – will be implemented across Northumberland, Newcastle, Sunderland, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead and County Durham from midnight on Thursday after being announced by health secretary Matt Hancock in a statement to the House of Parliament.
He said: “I know these decisions have a real impact on families, on businesses and on local communities but I can tell everyone effected, we do not take these decisions lightly.”
But he added: "The data says we have to act now."
The news was a confirmation of rumours which started swirling on Thursday night after details of a conversation between government officials and local MPs emerged
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