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 man has been arrested in connection to the death of television personality George Gilbey who died after suffering a fall at work.
Essex Police said it was called to an incident at a road in Shoebury, near Southend-on-Sea, following a report that a man had fallen from a height while at work.
An air ambulance was in attendance but sadly, the 40-year-old died at the scene.
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We received a report of an incident at Campfield Road in Shoebury at around 10am this morning (March 27), during which a man who was working at height had fallen and sustained an injury.
“The ambulance service including air ambulance were in attendance. Sadly, the man died at the scene. We will continue liaising with partners including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). A cordon remains in place at the scene.”
Gilbey, a self-employed electricain, starred in eight series of Channel 4’s Gogglebox alongside his mother Linda McGarry and stepfather Pete McGarry, who passed away at the age of 71 in 2021. Gilbey also Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5 in 2014, finishing fourth.
Channel 4 Gogglebox shared a statement on its official X account, saying: “George was part of the Gogglebox family for eight series alongside his mum Linda and step-dad Pete.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda, and George’s family and friends at this very sad time.”
Tributes from friends and fans have been pouring in online, as one person said: “Rest in peace George, thanks for all the laughs you gave me over the years. Bet Pete’s waiting for you with a pint xxx.”
Another wrote: “Thinking of your family. I’m so sorry to your mum especially. so much grief to deal with in such a short time the world can be so cruel.”
Celebrities have also been sharing tributes online after hearing the tragic news.
EastEnders actress Daniella Westbrook shared a photo of Gilbey and his mum on Instagram, and wrote beside it: “Goodnight, my darling friend George. I’m absolutely gutted.”
In a post on X, former Geordie Shore star Ricci Guarnaccio, and Celebrity Big Brother co-star, wrote: “Breaks my (heart) but @georgegilbey you are well and truely going to be missed my friend. Always lit up the room, cared for others & the memories we made I’ll cherish for ever brother. From CBB to speaking to you last week, I’m going to hugely miss you ma boiii! Love you G.”
And, Simon Minty wrote on Instagram: “So sorry to hear this. I really enjoyed watching George. Condolences to Linda and family.”
In the latest update, police said the arrested man was in his 40s and from the Witham area of Essex, and that further updates would be announced ‘proactively’. The force said he was arrested on ‘suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter’.
Greater Manchester Police has issued an urgent appeal to help find a man who was last seen in Tameside in the early hours of yesterday.
David, 40, was last seen on Sands Walk, Hyde, at around 12am on Wednesday March 27th.
He is believed to still have his mobile phone on him and to be somewhere in the Greater Manchester area, police say.
David is described as a white male, around 6 ft 2 ins tall, of slim build and a bald head with red facial hair. He also has tattoos on his arms and legs.
He was last seen wearing jeans, a black t-shirt and a black hoodie.
Anyone who has seen David or who may have any information about his whereabouts is urged to contact GMP on 0161 856 9325.
Television personality George Gilbey who starred on Gogglebox has died after suffering a fall at work.
Essex Police said it was called to an incident at a road in Shoebury, near Southend-on-Sea, following a report that a man had fallen from a height while at work.
An air ambulance was in attendance but sadly, the 40-year-old died at the scene.
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We received a report of an incident at Campfield Road in Shoebury at around 10am this morning (March 27), during which a man who was working at height had fallen and sustained an injury.
“The ambulance service including air ambulance were in attendance. Sadly, the man died at the scene. We will continue liaising with partners including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). A cordon remains in place at the scene.”
Gilbey starred in eight series of Channel 4’s Gogglebox alongside his mother Linda McGarry and stepfather Pete McGarry, who passed away at the age of 71 in 2021. Gilbey also Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5 in 2014, finishing fourth.
Channel 4 Gogglebox shared a statement on its official X account, saying: “George was part of the Gogglebox family for eight series alongside his mum Linda and step-dad Pete.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda, and George’s family and friends at this very sad time.”
Tributes from friends and fans have been pouring in online, as one person said: “Rest in peace George, thanks for all the laughs you gave me over the years. Bet Pete’s waiting for you with a pint xxx.”
Another wrote: “Thinking of your family. I’m so sorry to your mum especially. so much grief to deal with in such a short time the world can be so cruel.”
Celebrities have also been sharing tributes online after hearing the tragic news.
EastEnders actress Daniella Westbrook shared a photo of Gilbey and his mum on Instagram, and wrote beside it: “Goodnight, my darling friend George. I’m absolutely gutted.”
In a post on X, former Geordie Shore star Ricci Guarnaccio, and Celebrity Big Brother co-star, wrote: “Breaks my (heart) but @georgegilbey you are well and truely going to be missed my friend. Always lit up the room, cared for others & the memories we made I’ll cherish for ever brother. From CBB to speaking to you last week, I’m going to hugely miss you ma boiii! Love you G.”
And, Simon Minty wrote on Instagram: “So sorry to hear this. I really enjoyed watching George. Condolences to Linda and family.”