Birmingham set to go into Tier 3 restrictions

Birmingham is set to enter Tier 3 restrictions as cases and hosptialisations rise in the local community. This will mean the closure of hospitality venues that cannot provide food and tougher restrictions on household mixing.

The decision has been made after the West Midlands recorded its highest death toll yesterday in over five months, with 44 deaths in the region including five deaths recorded at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council,  told Birmingham Live. “Case rate numbers are going up, and we have to do something more. We will be moving into tier three.”

The increased restrictions are a response to rising hospitalisations as from Tuesday there were 33 patients in intensive care  at the Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands and Good Hope hospitals, the majority at the QE.

There are currently 291 people undergoing treatment in Birmingham hospitals and 242 of them are newly infected.

The University of Birmingham also confirmed more than 1,000 coronavirus cases yesterday since term started at the end of September.

Under these tighter restrictions, all hospitality venues which don’t provide a ‘substantial meal’ will have to close, and stricter rules on households mixing will be introduced.

People are also advised not to travel out of areas that are under the highest restriction. The West Midlands will join Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, South Yorkshire and Warrington in tier three. Nottinghamshire is also going to be added to the highest restriction by Friday.

There has also been talks for the North East to join this highest restriction level.

Guidance and advice for students at the university concerned about the current coronavirus outbreak can be found here.

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