BBC News: Greater Manchester to move to Tier 3
Covid: Greater Manchester to move to Tier 3 restrictions from Friday
Greater Manchester will move to England’s highest tier of coronavirus restrictions from Friday at 00:01 BST, the prime minister has announced.
Boris Johnson said “not to act now” would put the lives of Manchester’s residents “at risk”.
He added a “generous” offer of financial support had been made to the region, but Mayor Andy Burnham refused.
Mr Burnham said he had not been offered enough to “protect the poorest people in our communities”.
The “very high” alert level – or tier three – means pubs and bars not serving food must close, and there will be extra restrictions on household mixing.
Ahead of the Downing Street press conference, Mr Burnham – speaking alongside other local leaders – said that without an additional £65m in support, tighter measures “would be certain to increase levels of poverty, homelessness and hardship”.
On the inability to agree a support package, Mr Johnson said: “I do regret this. As I said last week, we would have a better chance of defeating the virus if we work together.”
