More areas are reportedly heading towards a Tier 3 lockdown like Liverpool City Region, after it became the first in the UK to be hit with new restrictions last week.
Matt Hancock confirmed on Monday evening that more regions were facing tougher measures as the government continue to try and control the spread of coronavirus.
Speaking in the House on Commons, he provided an update to MPs on how the restrictions were going in Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region.
Tier 3 was imposed here on Wednesday, October 14, and will be reviewed again in three weeks.
According to Mirror Online, he also spoke about the row between Whitehall and Andy Burnham on changes in Manchester.
During his speech, Matt Hancock talked about how areas where cases are on the rise could be plunged into Tier 3, adding that talks have already begun.
The areas most at risk are;
- South Yorkshire
- West Yorkshire
- Nottinghamshire
- The North East and Teesside
He said: "Following the successful introduction of measures in Liverpool and Lancashire, talks are continuing this afternoon led by the Communities Secretary with Greater Manchester, and this week further discussions are planned with South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, the North East and Teesside."
Mr Hancock said there is “growing evidence of the debilitating consequences of long Covid” and warned of increasing rates of the virus among older people in the UK.
The Health Secretary told the Commons: “Cases continue to rise among the over-60s, who are the most likely to end up in hospital or worse.
“I’m very worried that the cases per 100,000 among the over-60s is 401 in the Liverpool City Region, 241 in Lancashire and in Greater Manchester has risen over the past week from 171 to 283.”
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Mr Hancock said the Government is “working hard” to secure a Tier 3 deal with Greater Manchester.
It came as Downing Street escalated its war of words with Greater Manchester, warning that the region's intensive care capacity could be overwhelmed by Covid-19 within week.
Projections produced by the Government suggested Manchester’s hospitals risked being overwhelmed by November 12.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told a Westminster briefing: “Cases in Greater Manchester continue to rise.
“In the over-60 age group, cases have tripled in the most recent 15 days of full data – there were 89 cases per 100,000 on September 27 compared to 282 per 100,000 on October 12.
“Hospital admissions in Greater Manchester are doubling every nine days.”
