Warrington faces joining neighbouring regions in Tier 3 restrictions as Covid-19 cases continue to rise.
Council leader Russ Bowden said talks had already begun with the government over the possibility of moving the town to into the “very high risk” category, describing the initial discussions as “positive”.
Cllr Bowden said: “We have initiated talks with the government about Warrington’s local Covid alert level increasing to Tier 3, working through the practicalities of what this could mean for our town.
“We have done all we can to provide support and guidance to our residents and businesses throughout the pandemic, but the evidence shows that despite our best efforts, cases of coronavirus in Warrington are not decreasing.”
The latest figures show Warrington’s infection rate stands at almost 350 cases per 100,000 residents, in line with neighbouring Halton which is already covered by Tier 3 rules.
The town’s hospital is also nearing capacity, with 116 Covid-19 patients on its wards on Thursday morning, just below the April peak of 124, meaning it could struggle to deal with any further increase in hospitalisations.
Moving to Tier 3 would mean pubs and other businesses would have to close, but Cllr Bowden said he had concerns about how much support would be made available for those affected.
He said: “I do have concerns about the impact on local businesses and jobs if Warrington goes into Tier 3, and I’m particularly worried for our hospitality sector and those whose businesses are connected to the industry.
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“The discussions we have held with government so far, however, have been honest and realistic.
“If Warrington is to enter Tier 3 restrictions, I will do all I can to ensure there is an acceptable level of financial support made available for our businesses and their staff. This is an absolute priority for me.
“We cannot ignore the stubbornly high case numbers of coronavirus in the town, with more people being admitted to hospital and, distressingly, more people being taken by the virus. I therefore appeal to our residents to keep doing your bit, follow the guidance and restrictions and continue to play your part in protecting yourselves and your loved ones.
“In the meantime, I will continue to lead these proactive discussions with government to ensure that if we do enter the ‘very high’ risk category, Warrington secures the best possible support agreement.”
