Coronavirus news: Manchester Tier 3 talks end without deal, as Wales imposes ‘firebreak’ restrictions
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The government moved closer to imposing Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions on Greater Manchester after the latest round of talks collapsed without a deal.
Local leaders, including mayor Andy Burnham, had initially expressed hope an agreement could be reached on extra funding for the region on Monday, only for ministers to reject the proposals.
And on Monday night communities secretary Robert Jenrick issued a letter setting a deadline of 12pm on Tuesday to settle the dispute.
The government also held talks with several other regions in northern England, including the North East and South Yorkshire, over a move into Tier 3.
Meanwhile Wales announced a two-week “firebreak” lockdown will be imposed from 6pm on Friday to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said the “sharp and deep” new restrictions would last for 17 days and would require everyone except key workers to stay at home.
Ireland also confirmed it would begin a second national lockdown from midnight on Wednesday. The Level 5 restrictions will see schools stay open but non-essential businesses close. People will be told to stay at home for six weeks unless taking exercise within a 5km radius.
Irish premier Micheal Martin said the measures were necessary to curb the rise in cases and hospital admissions, adding: "As Taoiseach I am asking everyone again to take this threat seriously."
UK reports 80 deaths and 18,804 new cases
The latest daily update on the government’s Covid dashboard shows 18,804 new cases and 80 deaths.
It brings the totals to 741,212 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic and 43,726 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.
However there have been a total of 57,690 deaths registered with Covid mentioned on the certificate.
More than 306,000 tests were carried out in the last 24 hour period.
Wales lockdown ‘essential’ for NHS, say doctors
David Bailey, council chair of British Medical Association Cymru Wales, said: "Bringing in stronger restrictions in Wales at this point is essential - the surge in cases alongside the pressure that the winter season will inevitably bring and the huge backlog of patients already in the system is quite frankly an overwhelming prospect.
"Our members are deeply concerned about the ability of the service to cope.
"We hope the firebreak will stop the exponential rise and keep cases at a level where the NHS can cope, whilst also providing a small amount of relief to the staff who are fighting this virus on the frontline."
Helen Whyley, director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, said members were "exhausted, stressed and anxious" about caring for a large increase of patients as case levels rise.
"I was pleased to hear the First Minister of Wales acknowledging the importance and the dedication of nurses in the NHS and social care, but to support them, following the restrictions is not enough," she said.
"Testing for health and social care staff has to be accessible and results need to be immediate to ensure nursing staff are able to help and care for the people of Wales."
Covid deaths have ‘doubled in last 12 days’, says Hancock
Health Secretary Matt Hancock, making a statement in the Commons, has said that Covid-19 is “on the offensive” as winter approaches.
He added: "Weekly deaths in Europe have increased by 33% and here in the UK deaths have tragically doubled in the last 12 days.
"The situation remains perilous."
Still no deal with Greater Manchester
Matt Hancock said the government is still in talks with Greater Manchester over moving into Tier 3 lockdown restrictions.
The health secretary added similar talks are taking place with South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, the North-East and Teesside.
The Health Secretary told the Commons: "Cases continue to rise among the over-60s, who are the most likely to end up in hospital or worse.
"I'm very worried that the cases per 100,000 among the over-60s is 401 in the Liverpool City Region, 241 in Lancashire and in Greater Manchester has risen over the past week from 171 to 283."
However it appears local leaders in Greater Manchester were left baffled when the government appeared to pull away from a deal at the last moment.
Labour’s Instagram dig at Sunak over Manchester funding
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth suggested Chancellor Rishi Sunak should focus on extra funding for Greater Manchester rather than "admiring himself on Instagram”.
Responding to Matt Hancock’s Commons statement, Mr Ashworth said: "If he is seeking to impose greater restrictions upon Greater Manchester surely they need financial support so that people’s livelihoods are not put at risk. So can he tell the chancellor to spend less time admiring himself on Instagram and instead deliver a financial package to safeguard jobs across Greater Manchester"
Mr Hancock responded: "Of course we put the most support into the areas that need it most and this approach that the government's taking of targeting the support and the measures on the areas where they're needed most is at the core of how you, as he put it, retain the consent of people whilst we go through these difficult actions."
He added: "If I just leap to the Chancellor's aid here and defence, this government has put in unprecedented economic support to help people through these difficult times."
Ministers ‘considering next steps’ on Greater Manchester
The government says it is "carefully considering next steps" after failing to strike an agreement with Greater Manchester over Tier 3 restrictions.
A spokesman said: "A meeting between government and local leaders in Greater Manchester has concluded this afternoon following discussions throughout last week, over the weekend and this morning on measures necessary to protect the public.
"Disappointingly, we have still not been able to reach an agreement.
"This is particularly concerning against the backdrop of rising cases and hospitalisations in Greater Manchester. We are carefully considering next steps."
Westminster journalists are suggesting the government could soon impose Tier 3 restrictions.
France’s first lady in self-isolation
French first lady Brigitte Macron will self-isolate for seven days after coming into contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the president’s office said on Monday.
"Brigitte Macron was in contact on Thursday 15 October with a person who has been tested positive for Covid-19 this Monday, 19 October, and showing symptoms of the disease," it said in a statement.
"In accordance with health authorities' recommendations, she will self-isolate for seven days. Brigitte Macron has no symptoms of the disease at this stage."
Three-tier relationship rules explained
What does the three-tier lockdown system mean for couples who do not live together and those in nascent relationships?
As there have been various changes to the rules regarding physical contact and overnight stays in recent weeks, here’s everything you need to know about how the relationship rules differ in each Tier.
What are the rules for relationships in each lockdown tier?
Everything you need to know about how the rules affect couples in every Tier
Rapid testing to start in Hungary this week, claims Orban
Hungary will begin rapid antigen testing for coronavirus infections within days, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced.
"Together with our epidemiologists we are following what new testing methods are available in the world," Orban told parliament in response to an opposition lawmaker's question.
"We believe that antigen tests have a similar reliability to PCR tests," Orban said. "Our experts have advised us to make the decision to... introduce antigen tests as well and this will begin, possibly as soon as tomorrow."
Antigen tests detects proteins on the surface of the virus can produce results more quickly than PCR tests - which detect genetic material in the virus - but are considered less accurate.
Mr Orban did not elaborate on the number of rapid tests that will be carried out and a government spokesman declined to respond to further questions. The antigen tests can deliver a result in around 15 minutes.
Foster calls for ‘balance’ amid NI lockdown row
Arlene Foster has urged Northern Ireland ministers to “support each other” over the four-week circuit break lockdown amid the ongoing row over comments made by her colleague Edwin Poots.
In a video posted on Facebook, the first minister did not mention Mr Poots - who claimed Covid-19 was more rife in nationalist areas than unionist areas - or the criticism from DUP Assembly member Paul Frew.
However she admitted the DUP would have chosen different restrictions if it was making the decision on its own, but added: “We are in a five-party Executive and, by its very nature, any decision is going to have to be a compromise,”
Ms Foster said: " it is important to say that everyone in the executive recognises that there was a need to take some action to deal with the increase in transmission
"And I've always spoken about the balance needed and about the fact that we need to take proportionate decisions.
"I'm going to continue to seek proportionate decisions and seek balance as we move forward.
"And let us support each other as we do take these decisions. I think it's important at this challenging time that we do that."
There were a further six Covid-19 linked deaths and 820 new cases of the virus reported by Northern Ireland's Department of Health today.
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