UK: Three-tier COVID-19 lockdown faces backlash, London set for tougher rules

UK government came under increasing pressure on Friday as its three-tier COVID-19 lockdown faced backlash from some regions, even as Londoners prepared to move into Tier 2 high-risk category from Tier 1 medium level from midnight as part of efforts to control infection rates.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab accused local authorities of Greater Manchester in rrn England of holding centre "over a barrel" after region's mayor, Andy Burnham, refused a third-tier categorisation akin to a complete lockdown without ditional funding support for local businesses.

"Ultimately we need to take action; we can't have a situation as we have seen in Manchester where Andy Burnham is effectively trying to hold government over a barrel over money and politics," said Raab.

“I would just urge Andy Burnham to do right thing by people of Manchester," minister said.

However, Opposition Labour's Burnham has stood firm that being forced into third tier without a substantial financial pack would be disastrous for local ecomy.

“It's t about what we want for ourselves. It's about what we want for low-paid and self-employed people everywhere: fairness," Burnham tweeted in response.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tried to strike a conciliatory tone and said he would "much rar t impose things" but he was "concerned about what's happening in Manchester, where clearly levels of infection are rising steeply, levels of hospitalisation are rising steeply and we do need action." Meanwhile, talks with ar local authority, Lancashire, showed more progress as it agreed to be moved into third tier of a strict lockdown.

Department of Health and Social Care issued a statement to confirm that Lancashire, in rth west England, will join Liverpool in "very high" COVID-19 alert level from midnight on Friday.

It is understood that local leers were convinced to accept new restrictions by a multi-million-pound government support pack.

Under rules, people are banned from socialising with or households both indoors and in private gardens, while bars and pubs are closed unless y can operate as restaurants only.

In dition, casis, bingo halls, bookmakers, betting shops, and soft play areas are expected to close, with decisions on gyms and hair salons taken on a case-by-case basis.

"rule of six" applies to all garings outdoors and people are expected to avoid travelling outside very-high alert level.

Earlier in week, most of country was on medium alert in Tier 1, which means subject to national restrictions currently in force, including rule of six on indoor and outdoor garings and 10 pm closing time for pubs, bars and restaurants.

However, w Tier 2 is predominant setting with dition of London, Essex, York, Elmbridge, Chesterfield and rth-east Derbyshire among ors moving to high alert, which means an ditional ban on different households mixing indoors and n-essential travel being discourd.

tussle between centre and local authorities has been ongoing since three-tier system came in force for England earlier this week. Opposition Labour Party continues to demand a few weeks of a complete “circuit breaker” lockdown and with different regions of United Kingdom allowed to set ir own lockdown levels, rrn Ireland has opted for circuit breaker for four weeks from Friday.

Tougher restrictions on movement and garings are also in place in Scotland and Wales, which has ditionally imposed a travel ban on people entering region from COVID hotspots of England.

All changes w mean that millions of people across UK are under varying forms of lockdown, as a furr 18,980 coronavirus cases and 138 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported across UK.