According to the city council chairman, Birmingham and the West Midlands are likely to have moved up to level 3 of the coronavirus restrictions.
Birmingham City Council Chairman Cllr Ian Ward told our sister site BirminghamLive today that the number of Covid-19 cases has increased and “we need to do a little more”.
He said: “We don’t see cases like in some regions of the country, our curve is flatter, but the cases keep increasing.
“But all the indicators are there – we will get into tier 3.
“This week I had two meetings with local city guides (other councils in the West Midlands Combined Authority) and with the Chambers of Commerce to hear their views on the economic package and its implications.
“The government is firm about what is being offered (financially) – it will be akin to the support that is being offered to Greater Manchester, the Liverpool area and elsewhere.”
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Five of the seven West Midlands districts were upgraded to Tier 2 earlier this month, before Coventry and Dudley were later upgraded from Tier 1.
In taking this step, a number of businesses, particularly those in the hospitality industry, would be severely affected by the constraints of mixing households.
There should also be negotiations between the government and West Midlands leaders over tax-funded support packages for those affected.
Tier 3, also known as “very high” risk, means:
– People cannot socialize with people outside their household indoors and in many outdoor areas
– Pubs and bars have to close unless they work as a restaurant
– Weddings and funerals allowed, but with restrictions on the number of guests
A number of support packages are available to affected companies in Tier 3 areas. However, there were regional differences between the Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Liverpool City Region agreements.
These can be loans, funds to pay part of wages and grants from workers – Read our handy guide here for more information.
Mayor Andy Street is working with the region’s council presidents behind the scenes to ensure that a full package of support and financial assistance is in place for affected businesses before restrictions go into effect.
All the latest information on levels, restrictions, and support
The situation in the West Midlands was discussed yesterday at a meeting of the Gold Command chaired by Secretary of Health Matt Hancock.
The case rate in Birmingham is now over 250 cases per 100,000 people and there are now more than 300 patients with coronavirus in hospital beds at Birmingham University Hospitals, including more than 30 struggling for their lives in the intensive care unit.