Alternative plans could see a tougher tier of restriction added, if the current system hasn’t made a difference by mid-November.
Whitehall officials and local authorities are reportedly mulling over alternative plans to England’s current three-tier system.
The Mirror reports that a potential plan B could include a “Tier 3-plus” or “Tier 4”, with measures more like those we experienced during full lockdown.
While nothing has been officially announced, and the measures still reportedly just under discussion, iNews reports that they could include shutting restaurants and non-essential retail such as clothes shops.
The publication also reported that other options being discussed include the possibility of short-term local circuit breaker lockdowns in a bid to bring the R rate – the rate at which the virus is transmitted – below one.
Since October 12, England has been operating under a three-tier system of local restrictions which divides areas into different categories, labelled as medium, also known as Tier One, high, also known as Tier Two, or very high risk, which is referred to as Tier Three.
The North East is currently in Tier 2. However, despite infections falling in most of the region, talks are o ngoing about it being placed in Tier 3.
In the North East, there are restrictions on household mixing indoors while the rule of six continues to apply outdoors.
