South Yorkshire upgraded to tier 3 restrictions October 24
Category: Transportation
Severity: 3 (Moderate)
Source: Drum Cussac
10/25/2020 (United Kingdom) - British authorities have added South Yorkshire to the third tier of restrictions (the highest tier) as of Saturday, October 24, in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). As part of the increased "very high" restrictions, pubs and bars must close, unless they serve substantial meals, and alcohol may only be served as part of a meal. People may not meet others outside their household or support bubbles in indoor or outdoor spaces. However, the "rule of six" remains in place in open public spaces like parks and beaches. Travel into and out of tier 3 areas is discouraged, and people should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if they are resident in a tier 3 area. South Yorkshire joins Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and areas of Liverpool and Merseyside as areas under tier 3 restrictions. Talks are underway in Nottinghamshire, which is expected to see areas added to tier 3 on Wednesday, October 28, while authorities in Warrington and Cheshire stated that it would move into tier 3 on Tuesday, October 27.
Previously, on October 17, authorities announced the implementation of tier 2 restrictions in London, York, Essex (apart from Southend and Thurrock), North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Erewash (Derbyshire), Elmbridge (Surrey), and Barrow-in-Furness (Cumbria). Under the "high alert" restrictions, mixing between households indoors is banned, including in pubs and restaurants.
In Wales, a two-week "firebreak" began on Friday, October 23, with people requested to stay at home and not mix with other households, most shops and secondary schools closed, and the wearing of face masks is compulsory in indoor public places and on public transportation. Meanwhile, authorities in Scotland intend to implement a five-tier lockdown system from November 2, pending government approval.
Officials added the Canary Islands and the Maldives to the government's safe travel list on October 24. However, Liechtenstein was removed from the list, meaning those arriving from the country must self-isolate for a period of 14 days. Travel restrictions differ between the devolved governments. Further information regarding travel restrictions can be found here for England, Scotland, and Wales.
Many restrictions have been lifted in the UK. The wearing of face masks is mandatory in certain public areas, with fines for repeat offenders rising up to 3200 GBP (4175 USD). Further information regarding the wearing of face masks in the UK can be found here.
As of Sunday, October 25, there have been 857,043 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK with 44,835 associated deaths. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.
Context
The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.
Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, or a rash on the skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.
Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:
* Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
* When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
* If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.
Copyright © 2024 Drum Cussac
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