New coronavirus rules revealed amid reports area is placed in Tier 2

A South Yorkshire MP has revealed new rules people in the region will have to follow after it was placed in Tier 2 on the Government’s new alert system to control the spread of coronavirus.
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Alexander Stafford, Conservative MP for Rother Valley, said South Yorkshire will face greater restrictions from Wednesday ‘due to a huge spike in Covid cases’.

The new stricter controls include a ban on different households mixing indoors, including in hospitality venues, he revealed. An exemption exists for paid childcare for under-14s. Households can mix outdoors but must adhere to the rule of six and social distancing.

Shoppers wearing masks in Sheffield city centreShoppers wearing masks in Sheffield city centre
Shoppers wearing masks in Sheffield city centre
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Residents ‘must minimise travel’ but can still travel for education, work and to go on holiday. Travel within the UK is allowed as long as local restrictions in those places are obeyed, Mr Stafford added.

People will also be allowed to leave the county and local authority area but cannot travel to another county to mix with households there.

The hospitality sector ‘will remain open’ and there will be increased financial support and increased support for test and trace in South Yorkshire.

Mr Stafford said: "The Government has not ruled out going further in South Yorkshire if the situation does not improve. This will be done in conjunction with local authorities.

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“In order to exit level 2, we will need to flatten the curve and then see case rates fall. The Government is looking at various factors, including number of cases per 100,000 people, the percentage of positive tests, and the number of people over 60 who have tested positive.”

He added: “This tier system is easy and simple and will be visible on the NHS COVID-19 app. Together we can beat this and get our area out of these measures.”

In the Liverpool city region, which has been placed into the highest tier on the alert system, all household mixing has been banned and pubs, bars, gyms, leisure centres, betting shops, casinos and adult gaming centres will close from Wednesday.

Mr Johnson said: "This is not how we want to live our lives but this is the narrow path we have to tread.

"The weeks and months ahead will continue to test this country.”