Political leaders in Manchester said they are "still in discussions" with the government over the region's coronavirus status amid new tiering rules being announced today.
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is due to brief MPs later today as he announces the three tier system, which will come into effect on Wednesday.
Millions of people in the City of Liverpool region will be in the highest level of measures - Tier 3 - with bars and gyms expected to close.
There could also be limits on travel and social contacts.
But Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: "The decision hasn't been made for Greater Manchester. We're still in discussions."
"The demography of Liverpool is very different to that of Greater Manchester.
"We recognise there are those differences.
"We've had one meeting with government on Friday.
"They've not been able to show us any data that connects bars and pubs with transmission of Covid-19.
"Our own data - we have far more finely-grained data collected by directors of public health - there's not a particular connection."
He said having more localised track and trace and locally-determined enforcement measures were part of their submission to government "which would keep us in tier two."
He said "most people want to comply."
They want the powers to "rapidly close premises that don't comply."
Sir Richard added that he is "extremely worried" about the economic future of the city, although the economy has become "far more diverse."
"We have an enormous visitor economy - tourism, retail, culture. All those are very much under threat."
Meanwhile, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, vice-chancellor of Manchester University and chair of the Russell Group, said she did not have regrets about students coming back, as she acknowledged: "There are certain things we could've done better in hindsight.
She told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme: "We could've communicated better the need to self-isolate if you test positive.
"I think were surprised by the speed and scale by the numbers that tested positive.
"Had they not come back what would they have done?
"They are young people who had been denied schooling and had been denied university for six months and they very much wanted to come back. We gave them the choice.
"Of course, we can all learn a great deal from this.
"We had given a lot of thought to safety in Halls of Residences with cleaning advice and advice on distancing.
"What I don't think had communicated been enough was the importance of adherence."
She said the peak was a week ago and the numbers are coming down. The rise in numbers happened "very fast" - rising within seven to 10 days.
"Let's not be complacent, at our university the peak was just over a week ago and the numbers have been coming down."
