Discussions are ongoing over whether to move North Yorkshire into tier two of the local lockdown restrictions.
Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health for North Yorkshire, said today that although the county’s infection rate was low compared with its neighbours, it was still influenced by what goes on in surrounding areas.
Dr Sargeant told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of organisations that respond to emergencies:
“We have to consider that North Yorkshire is surrounded by areas that are already in higher tiers or moving in that direction.
“We have to consider that although our rates have thankfully remained lower than most of our neighbours, we will probably still be part of discussions that will take in what is happening with our neighbours.
“That will probably colour how the discussions about further interventions might occur. We need to be mindful of that.
“We have to balance what is needed to control infections against the considerations from our business leaders in terms of what impact restrictions might have on the hospitality sector in particular.”
North Yorkshire currently sits in tier one, but is surrounded by tier two areas including York and West Yorkshire.
A move into tier two would ban gatherings with other households indoors.
Dr Sargeant said public health bosses in North Yorkshire and elsewhere in the county were in “ongoing discussions” with government about what tier the wider area, which would also include East Riding of Yorkshire, York, Hull, North East and North Lincolnshire should be in.
However, officials said any decision on moving the region up a tier would be made by Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
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Dr Sargeant added that, if the county did change tier, there was a lack of clarity on how an area could move back down.
He added:
“If and when North Yorkshire were to move into tier two, it would be important for us to understand what would be the benchmarks and indicators that would signal that we have been successful in the various measures and step back down into tier one restrictions.”
Dan Jarvis, Mayor of Sheffield City region, confirmed this morning that a deal had been agreed with government to place South Yorkshire into tier three.
The movement of areas into tiers has raised concern over people travelling between different level of restrictions.
Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for covid response at North Yorkshire Police, said, while the force could not enforce limits on travel, people should follow the tier guidance.
He added:
“But for the public of North Yorkshire and the City of York who are worried what I can say is that officers will be patrolling, they will be visible and they will absolutely be enforcing face coverings and the rule of six as they have been doing throughout the pandemic.”
