Leader's column: Protecting against the virus

In her latest column, Tameside Council leader Cllr Brenda Warrington says the borough has "a very strong case" to move out of Tier 3 restrictions at the earliest opportunity and that her views on tiered lockdown measures "remain unchanged".

Now that the second national lockdown has ended Tameside, along with the rest of Greater Manchester, has been placed in the highest tier in coronavirus restrictions.

The key points include: you must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble. 

Hospitality settings such as bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants will remain closed, although they will be allowed to continue takeaways, drive-through or delivery services.

The current decisions on tiers will be reviewed every two weeks, which means that the earliest Tameside will be able to move out of Tier 3 restrictions is December 16. 

Our coronavirus infection rate as of  December 7 was 119.2 cases per 100,000, a figure which puts us below the current England average alongside Salford, Stockport and Trafford.

I therefore agree with the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham that we have a very strong case to move out of Tier 3 at the earliest opportunity, and we will be lobbying the government to make the right decision. 

I hope they listen to us with more consideration and respect than they did the last time we stood up for our city region.

My views on tiered lockdown measures remain unchanged. 

I still believe that, instead of a heavy-handed, top-down approach, the government should work closely with councils and Directors of Public Health to build a response based on sound local knowledge. 

I also have concerns about the support available for individuals and businesses, many of whom have suffered terribly through the pandemic and are unfortunately likely to face more hardship over winter. 

The current situation sees Tier 3 areas receive the same support as those in Tiers 1 and 2 – a decision which leaves areas such as Tameside and Greater Manchester, which have faced more severe restrictions for a longer period of time than much of the country, significantly worse off.

With the announcement of progress being made on a number of vaccines, I hope that we may be finally reaching the beginning of the end of this terrible pandemic. 

However, even the best possible scenario shows that we will be living with the coronavirus for many months to come. 

Now more than ever, we need to do what we must to protect ourselves and others, and we need the right support from the government to help make it happen.