Council Leader responds to the latest Government announcements on Covid-19

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, has commented on the latest Government plans to manage the Covid-19 pandemic after lockdown ends on 2 December.

The Prime Minister announced on Monday that the current lockdown arrangements will end on 2 December and be replaced by the regional three-tier system of restrictions.  Further clarity on which areas will be placed into each tier and the criteria that will be used is expected from Government later this week. 

Councillor Gittins has paid tribute to local residents and businesses who have been central to a recent reduction in the infection rate but wants to ensure this continues to help to turn things around. The rate of positive cases per 100,000 has reduced from 303 in the week to 13 November, to 243 in the week to 18 November. 

She emphasises that now is not the time for complacency: “Until the recent lockdown we had been placed under the Tier 2 level of restrictions. We’ve seen some good progress over recent days. Our residents and businesses have taken action, which will save lives and livelihoods. But we must all continue our efforts to reduce the infection rate. We want to get the rate down further and be at the lower end of restrictions, but this will only happen if we stay the course." 

Councillor Gittins has also called on Government to work with the council in this next phase:  “I understand we will not be consulted on which tier we will be in, but if Government decide to place us in a higher tier of restrictions after 2 December we want this to be for a short period as possible with the maximum support to our residents and businesses. I particularly want to see our hospitality sector fully supported and I hope that Government can work with us to make this happen.”