Some pubs, bars and restaurants in the North of England are preparing for what could be their last weekend before expected closures as hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people living in coronavirus hotspots could be told to shield this winter.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce the next stage of the Job Support Scheme later on today (Friday, October 9).
Tough new restrictions are expected in the North on Monday comes as infection rates continue to rise with parts of Cheshire among the most at risk areas owing to their growing cases.
The closure of pubs and a ban on social contact outside household groups could be implemented locally or nationally to deal with soaring infections, now at a level higher than the first wave peak.
A move to close pubs, bars and restaurants would, it has been warned, cause an ‘unprecedented’ number of Cheshire hospitality businesses to shut their doors for good.
As of yesterday (October 8) four new coronavirus deaths were recorded in Cheshire.
The total number of hospital deaths in the region is now 740.
Cheshire West and Chester cases are now at 3,374 while Cheshire East cases have risen to 3,655
Warrington has a total of 3,215 cases and Halton has 2,052 cases.
