Tier three announcement reaction: Council leader 'not surprised but obviously disappointed' that Harborough will stay in the highest Covid tier

Harborough will stay in the toughest Covid-19 Tier 3 zone over Christmas and the New Year, the Government has announced today.

The district, where the current rate of coronavirus infection is running at about 150 cases per 100,000 people, is now set to stay anchored in the highest tier of restrictions until deep into January.

The decision to leave Harborough – as well as Leicester and the rest of Leicestershire – in Tier 3 over the festive period was announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock in the House of Commons shortly before 12 midday today.

Confirmation came as it emerged that five care homes across Harborough are battling serious Covid-19 outbreaks at the moment.

Cllr Phil King, the leader of Harborough District Council, told the Harborough Mail this afternoon: “I’m not surprised by the Government’s decision but it’s still obviously disappointing.

“I know that many people out there in Harborough will be disappointed that we are staying in Tier 3.

“The current rate of virus infection in Harborough is a lot lower than it was a few weeks ago.

“But there’s still work to be done, we are just not low enough and the trend is still going up and going the wrong way.”

The Conservative council chief added: “Looking at the available data and information this is the only decision that the Government could have made.

“We have still got clear issues that have got to be addressed by the public health authorities here in Leicestershire.”

Cllr King revealed that five care homes in Harborough are now fighting to combat “outbreaks” of the virulent virus.

“I’m not sure where they are in the district, I don’t have that information.

“But these outbreaks among elderly residents at care homes are obviously pushing up the rate for Harborough as a whole,” he said.

“We have to look at using best working practices all the time and the sooner that the vaccine is rolled out to elderly people the better.

“Bristol and North Somerset are both being moved out of Tier 3 into Tier 2.

“They are showing that this promotion can be achieved.

“It does worry me that a big city like Bristol can get their infection rates down enough to climb out of Tier 3 but we can’t manage that yet.

“So we have to look at what they are doing down there and understand how they’ve done this and make sure that we do it.

“We just need one last big push in the right direction,” said Cllr King.

“I can’t see why we cannot move out of Tier 3 ourselves.

“So we all need to do the right thing over Christmas and the New Year – and be safe and responsible.”

Cllr Phil Knowles, who heads up the Liberal Democrats on Harborough council, told the Harborough Mail this afternoon: “This is disappointing but not unexpected.

“Covid is a real killer.

“And it’s taken a firm grip not just on Harborough, Leicestershire or indeed the UK but right across the world.

“So we need to stay vigilant around the clock – we can’t afford to let our guard down for a single second.

“We all have great individual responsibility here.

“We have to wash our hands, wear a face covering and keep our social distance.”

He added: “It’s simple – this is in our own hands.

“If we do the right thing we can have a massive positive impact fighting this deadly virus.

“But if we do the wrong thing and get carried away we’ll have a huge negative impact.

“That’s totally down to us.

“Covid is no respecter of your age, your gender, how rich you are – or who you are.

“It’s now struck down President Macron of France after Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior members of the Royal Family were hit earlier this year.

“The coronavirus does not discriminate.

“Any one of us can be affected at any time.

“I’m also calling on the Government to urgently put together a structured package of support for our battered hospitality sector.

“Shopkeepers, traders, pubs, restaurants, hotels – they are all hurting.

“Many are on the brink.

“The Government has to step in and get behind them now – or tragically they won’t be with us for much longer.”