Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today announced the UK government’s COVID Winter Plan ahead of England’s second national lockdown coming to an end on 2nd December.
He announced the plan during an address to MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon.
Mr Johnson revealed that the combined actions of the public to adhere to national lockdown restrictions over the past three weeks have been “making a difference” in curbing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), but that “we are not out of the woods yet.”
The end of England’s national lockdown on 2nd December was formally announced.
The COVID Winter Plan seeks to provide a new blueprint to fight the pandemic and looks to not only save lives during the winter, but also prevent an anticipated Commons revolt by rebel Tory MPs.
ADVERTISEMENT
BREAKING: Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms that national #COVID19 restrictions in England will end on 2 December.
But the PM adds that a regional tiered approach will return when lockdown ends.
All non-essential shops, gyms, leisure facilities and hairdressers will reopen across the country when the lockdown ends.
Weddings and collective worship will also be allowed.
ADVERTISEMENT
The “rule of six” will also be returning across the country, meaning people will no longer be limited to seeing only one other person in outdoor public.
The Prime Minister confirmed that England will enter into a revised and strengthened tier system – which he indicated is required to be stricter than before the national lockdown as the scientific evidence suggested those restrictions did not keep the R number below – and will apply “the toughest measures where COVID most prevalent”.
The new three tier system will see:
ADVERTISEMENT
Tier 1– People continue to work from home where possible.
Tier 2 – Only pubs serving “substantial meals” can open.
Tier 3 – Hospitality will be required to close – except for delivery and takeaway – and indoor entertainment venues must also close.
Spectator sports will also be able to resume in Tier 1 & 2, with limits on attendance.
BREAKING: Boris Johnson announces changes to Tier 1, 2 and 3 in England making them "tougher".
He says those in Tier 1 should work from home where possible and in Tier 2, alcohol will only be served in hospitality settings as part of a substantial meal.https://t.co/7ykLlI4Boapic.twitter.com/qsL4eyMits
The Prime Minister said he is “very sorry” for the “hardship” caused to business owners.
He confirmed that the tiers will now be a “uniform set of measures” with no local negotiations, and with regard to the 10pm curfew – which critics claim did more harm that good – he confirmed that last orders will now be 10pm, with one hour to finish drinks, and a final close at 11pm.
People in England will also be able to travel abroad for holidays once again from 2nd December, although they will remain subject to quarantine rules.
A scrapping of the self-isolation period for COVID contacts was also announced.
ADVERTISEMENT
In his address this afternoon, Mr Johnson did not however provide any further information on the proposed Christmas ‘break’ announced over the weekend, although government ministers are reportedly believed to be working on plans for three households and a five-day break – from Christmas Eve to 28th December – subject to agreement from the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments.
An announcement – which will confirm how many households will be able to bubble together at Christmas, or how long the break in restrictions will last – is currently planned for tomorrow.
"By maintaining the pressure on the virus we can also enable people to see more of their family and friends over Christmas."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News this morning that a final decision “hasn’t been made”
He said the government will “confirm it when we have that agreement across the four nations”, and added: “We’ve agreed in principle that there should be a set of rules that applies across the board that is balanced, that allows a little bit more freedom, but is still safe.”
Mr Johnson is due to announce which tier each part of the country will be placed into on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
It has not yet been indicated at this point how long the revised three tier system will be in place for, and whether areas will enter into different tiers depending on case numbers.
The COVID Winter Plan can be accessed in full here.
___
For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
#HandsFaceSpace
News
Manchester locals appealing for more information over a month after from finding family member’s body
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester family are still calling for more information now over a month on from the discovery of a man’s body at his Chorlton home.
William Riddell, 49, was found dead in the bedroom of a property on Astbury Avenue at approximately 11:35pm on Sunday, 10 November after being found by his stepdaughter, Sarah Hayden.
Details surrounding his passing are still scarce but a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has since been released on bail “pending further enquiries”, leaving Sarah and the rest of her family still none the wiser as to the exact nature of his death.
Preparing to spend their first Christmas without him, they have issued a desperate appeal for more information, urging anyone who might have information to come forward.
#APPEAL | The family of a man who died last month are appealing to the public for information as they face their first Christmas without him.
Billy Riddell was sadly found dead at his property in Manchester, with enquiries continuing.
Riddell, more commonly known as Billy by those close to him, was described as a “good, caring man with a big heart” and a popular figure in the local area.
Speaking via Greater Manchester Police, Sarah, said: “I want to be Billy’s voice and get answers for him. Billy was a nice and lovely man and all the community knew who he was. He was well-liked and we gave him a good send-off at his funeral.
“I would just ask anyone who knew him or has any information to come forward and tell police. Even if you think it’s a little or small thing – please come forward. We just want to get to the bottom of what has happened.”
Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, who serves on GMP‘s Major Incident Team, added in an official statement: “The family of Billy deserve answers following his death and we are working hard to ensure they get exactly that.
“We have closely supported Sarah and the wider family over the last month, and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can as they face their first Christmas without him.
“While a suspect has been bailed, we are still working flat-out to understand more about Billy’s life, the people he was close to, and events leading up to his death just over a month ago.”
With that in mind, both GMP and Riddell’s family are asking anyone who might know anything or have information regarding people associated with Billy to come forward, reiterating that “even if you consider something to be small – your help could greatly benefit our investigation.”
You can contact police via 101 or by using the live chat function HERE, quoting log 3227 of 10/11/24.
Alternatively, you can contact the UK’s independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
Government aims to ‘turn the tide’ on homelessness with £1 billion funding boost
Emily Sergeant
Nearly £1 billion of funding is being pumped into Council budgets to help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness” in 2025.
As part of the Government‘s wider ‘Plan For Change’, and in a bid to help tackle, reduce, and prevent homelessness next year, it’s been announced that more resources will be be made available for workers on the frontline who provide essential services to get rough sleepers off the street and into secure housing.
This significant investment means Councils will now be “better equipped” to step in early and stop households from becoming homeless in the first place.
According to the Government’s plans, these funded measures will include mediation with landlords or families to prevent evictions, helping homeless people find new homes, and providing deposits to access private renting.
This government is determined to tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness.
— Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov (@mhclg) December 18, 2024
The funding will also be used to address the growing use of B&Bs and nightly-let accommodation, and the streamlining of funding structures to make it easier for Councils to spend their cash.
Areas across the UK can also choose to channel resources into services such as Housing First.
Housing First has been massively successful in Greater Manchester, and has helped house hundreds of our region’s rough sleepers since it was first piloted, being described as “life-changing” along the way.
More than £633 million of the funding will be allocated for the Homelessness Prevention Grant – which is a £192 million increase from this year – while £185.6 million will go to the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, more than £37 million to the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and £5 million will be for the Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots.
This new £1 billion funding boost comes after it was announced back in September that Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished in England next year as part of the landmark Renters’ Rights Bill.
It will also look to support the Government’s ambition to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation – with an extra £500 million ploughed into the Affordable Homes Programme to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across the country.
The Manc -
23rd November 2020 
