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The areas of England that could escape Tier 3 next week as infection rates drop
It could be good news for Greater Manchester
With coronavirus cases in Greater Manchester falling rapidly, there’s hope we could escape Tier 3 next week, although it looks like London and Essex could be moving up into the highest tier.
The government is set to re-assess the tiers on Wednesday, December 16th, and it looks like Greater Manchester could escape the toughest restrictions for the first time in months.
The Mirror conducted an analysis of coronavirus rates since November 26th, and have found which places could be moving up or down due to changes in the numbers.
Daniel Nisbet / Flickr
Like Greater Manchester, infection rates are dropping in lots of Tier 3 areas, including Hull, Birmingham, and West Yorkshire, raising hopes more areas will be able to drop down into Tier 2 – however, it’s not clear by how much rates need to fall in order to move down a tier.
Andy Burnham said yesterday that while there has been a ‘significant decline’ in hospital admissions across Greater Manchester, the infection rates are varying in different areas, with cases in Bury actually growing by 5% (to 225.7 per 100,000), while in Trafford they’ve dropped down into double digits (81.5 per 100,000).
In other Tier 3 areas, Kent is likely to remain under the toughest restrictions as rates continue to rise there, with Lincolnshire in the same position, and it looks like London and Essex could be joining them in Tier 3.
Like in Greater Manchester, London has seen a variation in infection levels across the city, with places like Camden and Richmond having relatively low rates, while Waltham Forest and Havering have seen high levels.
Colin and Kim Hansen / Wikimedia
The top ten areas with the highest rates include six in Kent, two in Lincolnshire and one each in Essex and London, with Swale in Kent currently having the nation’s highest rates (619.7 cases per 100,000), followed by Medway (602.4).
But the overall rate is only one measure the government looks at when considering tiers, they also consider the number of hospital beds an area has and the prevalence of the virus – specifically in the over-60s.
Here’s a breakdown of the rates in different areas of England, courtesy of the Mirror’s analysis.
The places where rates have increased in Tier 2:
Essex
- Basildon, 433.8, (812), 275.1, (515)
- Brentwood, 281.7, (217), 199.9, (154)
- Thurrock, 252.4, (440), 216.2, (377)
- Epping Forest, 249.1, (328), 221.0, (291)
London
- Havering, 378.7, (983), 337.5, (876)
- Waltham Forest, 316.6, (877), 217.3, (602)
- Barking and Dagenham, 310.9, 261.6, (557)
- Newham, 263.9, (932), 223.1, (788)
- Bexley, 259.8, (645), 227.2, (564)
Surrey
- Runnymede, 284.0, (254), 191.2, (171)
- Woking, 218.3, (220), 193.5, 146.8, (148)
Hertfordshire
- Broxbourne, 264.2, (257), 196.3, (191)
- Watford, 199.8, (193), 164.6, (159)
- Hertsmere, 158.2, (166), 146.8, (154)
- East Hertfordshire, 146.2, (219), 128.2, (192)
- North Hertfordshire, 100.3, (134), 96.6, (129)
East Midlands
- Rutland, 97.7, (39), 47.6, (19)
North West
- Barrow-in-Furness, 123.8, (83), 102.9, (69)
Buckinghamshire
- Milton Keynes, 182.2, (491), 167.0, (450)
- Aylesbury Vale, 160.4, (320), 132.4, (264)
- High Wycombe, 151.2, (264), 139.1, (243)
The places where rates have decreased in Tier 2:
Liverpool City Region
- St Helens, 129.6, (234), 170.6, (308)
- Liverpool, 88.1, (439), 147.2, (733)
- Wirral, 57.1, (185), 112.3, (364)
Worcestershire
- Worcester, 82.0, 153.1, (155)
- Malvern Hills, 61.0, 87.7, (69)
Norfolk
- Norwich, 121.6, (171), 140.9, (198)
- South Norfolk, 109.3, (154), 137.7, (194)
Northamptonshire
- Northampton, 197.2, (443), 227.1, (510)
- South Northamptonshire, 113.2, (107), 201.1, (190)
- Corby, 101.1, (73), 164.8, (119)
North West
- Carlisle, 78.2, (85), 233.7, (254)
- Warrington, 120.9, (254), 187.1, (393)
- Cheshire East, 103.1, (396), 164.8, (633)
- Cheshire West and Chester, 100.9, (346), 168.2, (577)
Suffolk
- Ipswich, 160.7, (220), 161.4, (221)
- East Suffolk, 61.7, (154), 71.4, (178)
- West Suffolk, 53.6, (96), 60.9, (109)
The places where rates have increased in Tier 3:
Kent
- Swale, 619.7, (930), 532.4, (799)
- Medway, 602.4, (1,678), 442.3, (1,232)
- Gravesham, 423.6, (453), 392.7, (420)
- Thanet, 419.9, (596), 478.4, (679)
- Maidstone, 409.1, (703), 277.0, (476)
The places where rates have decreased in Tier 3:
East Yorkshire
- Hull, 200.9, (522), 460.0, (1195)
- East Riding of Yorkshire, 147.4, (503), 278.5, (950)
Greater Manchester
- Oldham, 153.5, (364), 366.9, (870)
- Rochdale, 215.4, (479), 342.2, (761)
- Wigan, 187.1, (615), 301.2, (990)
- Manchester, 169.8, (939), 245.3, (1,356)
- Trafford, 85.1 (202), 169.4 (402)
- Bury 225.7 (431), 300.5 (574)
Lincolnshire
- Boston, 387.6, (272), 438.9, (308)
- Lincoln, 329.3, (327), 391.7, (389)
- East Lindsey, 176.4, (250), 429.0, (608)
- North Lincolnshire, 174.1, (300), 341.3, (588)
- North East Lincolnshire, 153.5, (245), 372.9, (595)
North East
- Hartlepool, 222.1, (208), 364.1, (341)
- South Tyneside, 205.3, (310), 336.5, (508)
- Middlesbrough, 180.9, (255), 309.3, (436)
- Sunderland, 162.8, (452), 275.8, (766)
- Newcastle upon Tyne, 113.9, (345), 300.8, (911)
Staffordshire
- Stoke-on-Trent, 321.8, (825), 419.3, (1,075)
- Newcastle-under-Lyme, 204.0, (264), 407.1, (527)
- East Staffordshire, 220.5, (264), 362.4, (434)
West Midlands
- Sandwell, 211.3, (694), 406.5, (1,335)
- Wolverhampton, 243.4, (641), 343.6, (905)
- Birmingham, 191.4, (2,186), 339.8, (3,880)
- Walsall, 194.4, (555), 320.2, (914)
Warwickshire
- Coventry 129.5 (481), 200.5 (745)
- Rugby 105.6 (115), 212 (231)
West Yorkshire
- Bradford, 192.7, (1,040), 362.9, (1,959)
- Calderdale, 192.0, (406), 306.4, (648)
- Kirklees, 182.6, (803), 373.6 (1,643)
- Leeds, 142.5, (1130), 266.3, (2,112),
South Yorkshire
- Doncaster, 214.2, (668), 245.3, (765)
- Rotherham, 184.6, (490), 232.1, (616)
- Barnsley, 139.8, (345), 256.8, (634)
- Sheffield, 131.1, (767), 223.6, (1,308)
Lancashire
- Pendle, 286.6, (264), 311.6, (287)
- Blackburn with Darwen, 263.2, (394), 335.3, (502)
- Burnley, 247.4, (220), 356.5, (317)
- Rossendale, 226.6, (162), 303.6, (217)
- Hyndburn, 169.0, (137), 407.2, (330)
- Blackpool, 147.7, (206), 205.1, (286)
East Midlands
- Nottingham, 152.0, (506), 196.8, (655)
- Bassetlaw, 256.3, (301), 290.3, (341)
- Derby, 144.6, (372), 260.8, (671)
Leicestershire
- Oadby and Wigston, 301.7, (172), 413.9, (236)
- Leicester, 245.6, (870), 383.4, (1,358)
- Blaby, 203.9, (207), 346.7, (352)
- North West Leicestershire, 113.9, (118), 279.9, (290)
South West
- South Gloucestershire, 136.4, (389), 212.2, (605)
- Bristol, 126.7, (587), 300.4, (1,392)
- North Somerset, 113.9, (245), 204.6, (440)
South East
- Slough, 238.7, (357), 323.0, (483)
The above numbers are based on two different testing programmes, both tests in laboratories (pillar one) and tests in the wider community (pillar two), and the figure is the number of new cases per 100,000 people.
A boy has been left in critical condition in hospital following an incident with a police van last night.
The 11-year-old was struck by a police van in Lancaster on Thursday night, May 25th, as the van was attending a call.
Lancashire Police say the vehicle was en route to an emergency call when the collision happened.
The boy was crossing Owen Road just before 8:30 pm when he was hit, and was transported to Royal Lancaster Infirmary in a critical condition.
A police spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the child’s loved ones at this time.
“An investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances that led to the collision.
“We have voluntarily referred this matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as is standard with an incident of this nature.”
Google Maps
The IOPC said in a statement: “We have declared an independent investigation into the actions of Lancashire Police prior to a road traffic collision in Owen Road, Lancaster at around 8.30pm tonight, in which a child has been injured.
“We understand that a marked police van, with its lights and sirens on, was in a collision with an 11-year-old boy.
“We were notified by the force shortly after the collision and declared an investigation at 10.37pm. IOPC investigators are heading to the scene and the police post incident procedure to begin gathering information.”
According to the IOPC, the investigation is in its early stages.
News
Sam Smith cancels upcoming shows due to ‘vocal cord injury’ and tells fans ‘I’m so sorry’
‘Refunds will be available at point of purchase for all three dates; Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow’
Sam Smith has cancelled their upcoming shows due to a vocal cord injury and issued a statement telling fans, ‘I’m so sorry’.
The singer had to call off their Gloria Tour show, mid-way through, at Manchester AO Arena last night (Wednesday May 24th) after experiencing ‘vocal issues’.
The lights went off and fans waited in darkness for a number of minutes as speculation circulated on social media, with many wondering if there had been a ‘power cut’.
Moments later, after just four songs, a packed-out arena was told the show unfortunately had to be called off.
Afterwards, Sam, 31, issued a statement on their Instagram stories to tell fans — who had missed out on a ‘surprise’ that was supposed to be at the end of the show — how ‘sorry’ they were.
Today, Thursday May 25th, the ‘Unholy’ singer has issued another statement after calling off upcoming gigs.
On their Instagram stories, the star wrote: “Due to vocal issues during last night’s Manchester performance, regrettably we will be cancelling the rescheduled Birmingham and Glasgow Sam Smith shows.
“Refunds will be available at point of purchase for all three dates; Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.
“A spokesperson said ‘Doctors have advised due to a vocal cord injury, Sam must have complete vocal rest’.
“Sam is heartbroken to have had to cancel these shows but they have been told by doctors that if they keep singing, they will do permanent damage to their voice.
“If they take some rest they will be able to perform again. I’m so sorry.”
Sam already had to push back the Birmingham and Glasgow gigs after suffering from a virus several weeks ago.
After calling off last night’s show at Manchester’s AO Arena, Sam wrote on their Instagram story: “Today in soundcheck I felt fine and was so excited to give Manchester an amazing show tonight, with a special surprise at the end.
“During my third song, I noticed something wrong with my voice. I prayed it was just my voice waking up for the show but into the fourth song I could feel something was really wrong.”
The pop singer added: “I came off stage and have tried everything to get my voice back in gear but it won’t.
“I am honestly heartbroken I couldn’t finish the show tonight for you all. I love you all. I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry.”
News
Body found in river in search for missing 24-year-old woman
Shannon’s family have been informed
A body has been found in a river in the search for a missing woman from Lancashire.
Police searching for Shannon Canning from Lancaster say they have found a body. The 24-year-old had been missing from home since the early hours of Friday May 19th.
A search operation was launched to find the young woman who did not turn up for work at Tipple bar on Friday afternoon.
Public appeals for help were launched by her family and the police force, who said they were concerned for her welfare as the disappearance was out of character.
Lancashire Police have confirmed the body of a woman was found in the River Lune near Halton on Wednesday afternoon, May 24th. Shannon’s family has been informed.
Patrols were increased during the week and specialist divers joined the search yesterday. Officers were called at around 4.20pm Wednesday afternoon when the discovery was made.
A statement from Lancashire Police said: “Sadly, officers searching for missing Shannon Canning have an update, following a body recovered from the River Lune.
“We can confirm that we were called today (May 24th) at around 4:20pm to a report that a body had been found in the River Lune, near Halton.
“Specialist search teams have subsequently attended the area and can sadly confirm that the body of a woman has been recovered.
“Although formal identification has yet to take place, we believe the body to be that of missing Shannon Canning.
“Shannon’s family have been made aware of this sad development and our thoughts are with them at this upsetting time.”
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Sam Smith cancels upcoming shows due to ‘vocal cord injury’ and tells fans ‘I’m so sorry’
Body found in river in search for missing 24-year-old woman
