Teesside could be put into Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions within 48 hours as cases there continue to surge.
Local MP Jacob Young said he thought the Tees Valley will take the measures in the coming days.
The Redcar MP said: "I think it's quite likely.
"Last week we were taking part in Tier 3 talks, it looked like cases were levelling off and those talks were paused.
"Those talks will be restarted in the very near future.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see Tier 3 restrictions in place within the next week or so.
"If they think the virus is getting out of control in an area, they want to put a lid on it quite quickly."
Middlesbrough and neighbouring Stockton-on-Tees has one of the highest infection rates in the country.
In Stockton-on-Tees the rate has increased from 360.8 cases per 100,000 people to 444.4 in the seven days to October 23.
A total of 877 new cases were recorded in the seven days compared to 712 in the previous period.
Middlesbrough has an infection rate of 393 per 100,000 residents - a significant rise from the previous week.
A total of 554 cases were recorded in the seven days compared with 441 in the previous period.
It comes as it was revealed that the West Midlands could also move to tough new Tier 3 restrictions as soon as the end of next week, unless infection rates drop significantly.
The region's Conservative mayor Andy Street and the leaders of the seven metropolitan councils had been discussing the prospect of tougher "Very High" measures being imposed, ahead of a gold command meeting with Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Wednesday.
Following the meeting, local authority sources said it is "pretty unlikely" infection rates will come down enough in the next few days, and Tier 3 restrictions could be imposed "by the end of next week or the start of the following week".
The move would see another three million people join other parts of the country under the highest level of restrictions.
With Nottinghamshire becoming the latest area to have Tier 3 measures imposed, 8.7 million residents across the country will be living under the controls by Friday.
Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "Given the rising case rate and other factors, a move to Tier 3 would seem to be inevitable at some stage."
He said he is talking with the other council leaders, MPs and public health officials daily to try and agree a unified position on a support package with the Government.
