MP urges caution on Covid

As the area waits to hear today (Thursday) which tier it will be in when the country comes out of national lockdown on December 2, Wetherby’s MP has urged caution.
Alec Shelbrooke MP for Elmet and Rothwell. (S)Alec Shelbrooke MP for Elmet and Rothwell. (S)
Alec Shelbrooke MP for Elmet and Rothwell. (S)

Elmet and Rothwell MP Alec Shelbrooke said he realises the pressure on residents and businesses but the vaccine rollout would not come until the new year.

“This year has been incredibly hard for families and businesses in our area and we are all hoping that the new year will bring better news,” Mr Shelbrooke told the Wetherby News.

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“The national lockdown of the last three weeks has helped reduce pressure on our local hospitals, which were heading towards significant capacity problems, and whilst there is now better news on the horizon with the Government having secured over 50 million doses of a vaccine, we’re not quite there yet.

“The number of positive cases in my constituency are now falling, but remain twice as high as they were in September, so we do need to push through into the new year when all our attention will be on the vaccine rollout.”

Under the previous local lockdown, Leeds was in Tier 2 but was preparing to enter Tier 3 - the toughest level of restrictions - when the second national lockdown started.

Confirmation of which areas will be placed into Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 of the new system will come today, November 26.

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A Leeds City Council spokesman said: “We await to hear from Government regarding which tier Leeds will be placed in post-lockdown.

“A final decision is expected to be made and announced by Government on Thursday.

“In the meantime, we appreciate all the efforts being made by our communities and partners to deal with the pandemic.

“We continue to do all we can to prevent the spread of the virus and are pleased that the actions of people in the city are reducing case numbers and infection rates.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced earlier this week that up to three households could join together to form a Christmas bubble from December 23-27.