Coronavirus: Government introduces further restrictions on North East hospitality sector and socialising

The government has announced that further lockdown restrictions will be brought into place across the North East of England.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, reported in Parliament that hospitality venues such as bars, cafes and restaurants, will be required to close by 10pm as of tomorrow.

The restrictions will affect Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Gateshead, Durham and Sunderland.

Other restrictions brought into place will see table service become the only option when eating out, and a ban on households mixing outside of their social bubbles.

This comes as figures show an average of between 64 - 82 new cases per 100,000 people across each of the affected regions in the past week.

Matt Hancock said: “We’ve seen concerning rates of infection in parts of the North East, and as a result, Local Authorities wrote to me earlier this week asking for tighter restrictions.”

“I know these decisions have a real impact on families, businesses and local communities, we do not take these decisions lightly.

“The data says we must act now so we can control the virus and keep people safe.

“I know the people of the North East will come together to defeat this virus, as defeat it we must.”

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