Milton Keynes is at an 'increased risk' of entering Tier 3 restrictions

Milton Keynes is at an 'increased risk' of entering Tier 3 restrictions, it has been announced today (11/12).

This comes as the number of cases across the city is rising, with 119 cases being recorded in the borough of Milton Keynes today.

The infection rate currently stands at 196 per 100,000 people, which is the highest the city has seen.

Cllr Pete Marland, Leader of Milton Keynes Council, today issued a serious message to residents. He said: "Last week the number of cases had started to stabilise but the number of cases has started to rise again. There are now more people in hospital with COVID-19 than in the national peak in the spring. This is very worrying."

He added that winter is generally a challenging period for the NHS, and this year as well as coronavirus, they are treating those with winter illnesses. And Cllr Marland says this is why it is "vital" to get the infection rate down. 

He continued: "Pressure on the NHS is a key factor whether an area is placed in Tier 3 restrictions. The rise in our cases and pressure on our NHS now means we're at an increased risk of entering Tier 3. I don't want this to happen. The impact on our economy and local businesses would be great. It is now vital that we all take extra care and strictly follow the guidance."

Cllr Marland adds that Public Health experts say there is not a "main way" that the virus is spreading, and that it is simply through "general contact" in the community. 

Ben Everitt, MP for Milton Keynes North added ''The vaccines offer us hope, but we're not out of the woods yet. It'll take a while to roll them out and then a while longer for the immunity to kick in. We will get back to normal. Help is on the way, but for now we need to follow the guidance on social distancing and remember Hands Face Space. The alternative is tougher restrictions and no one wants that. Let's hold our nerve and see this though.''

Tier 3: Very High alert

This is for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level of infections, where tighter restrictions are in place.

In Tier 3:

• you must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues

• you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the ‘rule of 6’

• hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.

• accommodation such as hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training 

• indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close. This includes:

  • indoor play centres and areas, including trampolining parks and soft play

  • casinos

  • bingo halls

  • bowling alleys

  • skating rinks

  • amusement arcades and adult gaming centres

  • laser quests and escape rooms

  • cinemas, theatres and concert halls

  • snooker halls

• indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open). This includes indoor attractions within:

  • zoos, safari parks, and wildlife reserves

  • aquariums, visitor attractions at farms, and other animal attractions

  • model villages

  • museums, galleries and sculpture parks

  • botanical gardens, biomes or greenhouses

  • theme parks, circuses, fairgrounds and funfairs

  • visitor attractions at film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes

  • landmarks including observation decks and viewing platforms

• leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead.

• there should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators

• large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events

• places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with  anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies

• weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events

• organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place

• organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s

• you can continue to travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible

• avoid travelling outside of your area, including for overnight stays other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through other areas as part of a longer journey

• for international travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list

Find out more about the measures that apply in Tier 3 areas

Therefore it is important to follow coronavirus prevention measures to prevent the spread. Find them here. 

© MKFM News 2020