Boris Johnson is facing an uprising from his own MPs, with 99% of the UK population coming under two hard corona virus layers when the lockout ends next week.
Many senior Conservatives have urged the government to publish an analysis of the impact of these strict rules on reducing infection rates – as well as its impact on people’s livelihoods and the wider business community.
About 32 million people – 57.3% in the UK – fall into Tier 2. But 23.3 million people – 41.5% of the population – are due to be placed in tier 3 from December 2nd.
Search your area on this map to see which layer it is placed on
Large areas of the Midlands, North East and North West will be subjected to drastic measures. Hospitality venues will be closed before Christmas if they fail to provide delivery or delivery services, and are prohibited from mixing into homes.
But according to statistics, out of 119 areas in Tier 3 from next week, only eight have seen an increase in corona virus cases.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 group of Conservative MPs, told the BBC: “I think the rate of infection is falling to very low levels, especially by forcing the greater part of the country to tighten controls. The government has done a lot of hard work.”
The Daily Mail reports that 70 government backbones are ready to revolt against the prime minister when parliamentarians vote on the rules next Monday.
The Times reports that although the decks are scheduled to be reviewed across the UK on December 16, measures will not be relaxed until mid-January.
Epidemiologists say strict restrictions are needed before travel rules can be relaxed from December 23 to 27, which includes the Christmas season.
The government has promised to release an impact assessment of the measures before MPs vote on December 1, amid concerns that the economic impact of the stratification and the health effects of the knock-on have not been fully taken into account.
Steve Baker, vice president of the Conservative MPs’ COVID Rescue Committee, said yesterday that “the dictatorship at work is truly terrifying.”
Sir Roger Gale, a Member of Parliament for Kent constituency in North Thane, criticized the decision to place all districts in Tier 3, fearing that people would “cross the border” to go to a nearby pub in Tier 2.
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In an effort to soften the blow to the Tier 3 areas, ministers promise access to quick-results COVID-19 tests to help reduce infections and cash subsidies.
Extra money will also be given for areas placed in Tier 2 and Tier 3.
The health secretary said, “These are not easy decisions, but they are made according to the best medical advice.”
There are rules in the UK before and after national locking
At a Downing Street conference yesterday, Professor Chris Witty said the latest Tier 2 measures would “catch the fort” – meaning that controls would prevent an increase in infection rates, but not contribute to them falling in a meaningful way.
“Based on previous experiences we think Tier 3 is enough to pull things from the highest peak,” he explained.
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Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Valens warned that “a very large number” – one in 85 – currently have COVID-19 in the UK.
He added: “The layers work slowly, but it is flat and does not work in modifying.
“The national lock seems to flatten it out and send it downward. It’s important to bring it down because the numbers are high.”
1% of the population, 714,000 people, will live under Tier 1 restrictions.