Following the discussions with the government the decision has therefore been taken to move the city into Tier 3, meaning that from 00.01 on Monday November 2:
In addition to the in addition to the core ‘very high’ measures, the following will also be applied in West Yorkshire, with the detail being confirmed when the regulations are laid. The closure of: Casinos, Soft Play Areas, Adult Gaming Centres, Betting Shops, and no Car boot sales. The following restricted opening measures will also be put in place: Shisha bars must not serve Shisha – but may operate as cafés and gyms may open, but guidance is against indoor exercise classes taking place.
Existing guidance for providing care and support as well as attendance at certain events and venues will remain in place. This means:
Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “The health and livelihoods of our communities are at very serious risk, so it was imperative we got the best deal possible to protect our people and city. We have succeeded in negotiating a substantial package of financial support and commitments for businesses and our communities, with much of the business support in addition to existing government support schemes, which is a significant development.
“The introduction of any restrictions on life in Leeds is never something any of us want to see, but keeping our residents and communities safe and protecting the health, care and other front line workers to whom we owe so much has to be our absolute priority.
“This past week we have seen just how much the people of Leeds will unite to support their own and we must draw on that same inspirational compassion and indomitable spirit now as together, we enter the next phase of our fight against this dreadful virus.
“We will continue to work with our partners, communities and local businesses to ensure they are given the absolute maximum support available and we would ask everyone in Leeds to carry on standing together as a city and doing their part to look after each other.”
Everyone in Leeds can help to control the spread of COVID-19 by observing restrictions and following the key guidelines:
Lucy Jackson, Leeds City Council’s chief officer for public health, said: “We know that the news of additional restrictions is difficult to hear for everyone in Leeds but these measures are not taken lightly.
“Cases of COVID-19 in the city are currently at a very high level and we must take action now to control the spread, keep everyone in our communities as safe as possible and avoid our local health services being overwhelmed over the winter months.
“It’s also impossible to overstate the importance of everyone following the advice on social distancing, hand-washing and wearing masks when required. Taking these simple steps could save lives and will be particularly important in keeping vulnerable and older people safe by minimising their contact and risk as much as possible.”
For details on all current coronavirus guidelines and advice visit the government website or Leeds City Council coronavirus information pages.