The seven local authorities in the North East of England have been given a week’s reprieve from going into Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions, a source told the PA news agency.
It was believed council leaders in Northumberland, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham had successfully argued to ministers that the rise in infection rate was slowing in the region, but avoiding the increased restrictions next week depended on that continuing.
The Government has been negotiating with local leaders in the north of the country over areas going into Tier Three restrictions - which means pubs, gyms and salons closing and household mixing banned.
Liverpool is under Tier three with Lancashire set to be confirmed as the second Tier Three area today.
There are fears Nottingham will be next as MPs meet with Boris Johnson this afternoon.
Greater Manchester is resisting Tier Three measures unless it gets more financial support.
