“There can be no trade-off between the economy and health": Yorkshire leaders have their say on local COVID-19 alert levels

The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday (October 12) outlined a three-tier alert system for dealing with COVID-19.

The system, comprising ‘medium’, ‘high’ and ‘very high’ levels, will put restrictions on socialising as well as the hospitality sector.

Business leaders from across Yorkshire shared with Bdaily their reactions to the news as well as their priorities for the coming weeks.

Roger Marsh OBE DL, chair of the NP11 (Northern Powerhouse 11) and Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership

“We are deeply concerned by the surge in COVID-19 cases throughout the North and the subsequent impact of the pandemic on the health and economy of our region.

“The North has already been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, with a number of our local authorities now placed into the ‘High’ and ‘Very High’ risk areas.

“Whilst we support restrictions to reduce the spread of the virus, these must be kept to a minimum and supported with clear scientific data and local authority assistance from government.

“Many businesses throughout the North, particularly those in hospitality, have been left with an uncertain future by [yesterday’s] announcement.

“As we head into what will be a challenging winter, we need urgent, co-ordinated, and far-reaching action to safeguard our communities, protect our local economies, and prevent a devastating levelling down effect.

“Our offer to government is to work in partnership with us and other local leaders to forge a long-term strategy out of lockdown, whilst providing financial support packages for businesses, organisations and employees in the ‘High’ and ‘Very High’ risk areas.

“There can be no trade-off between the economy and health: one cannot function without the other.

“The North will be integral to the future economic recovery and prosperity of the nation. That’s why we are united in our commitment with the government to levelling up and unlocking the full potential of our region.

“However, without financial support and collaboration with local authorities, central government risks its levelling-up commitment. This will be detrimental to our region and the UK.”

Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region

“We are entering a new phase in our efforts to overcome the coronavirus and we face a difficult winter unless we stop its spread.

“I accept the need for new restrictions, but the government is failing to grasp the scale of action required.

“Local leaders face a situation where we are left without the tools and resources to control the virus, until cases spiral to the ‘very high’ alert level. This is not the right approach.

“The new system brings restrictions without additional economic support at the ‘high’ alert level. This lands another blow for our high streets and businesses who face takings and trade falling further.

“We need a local lockdown lifeline so businesses, suppliers and the self-employed are fairly compensated from restrictions which cut their income. I will fight to ensure workers and businesses get the backing they need to survive.

“People in South Yorkshire must prepare themselves for a new set of rules, and to limit their contact with other households. If the restrictions are to work, they must be crystal clear to command people’s confidence, and be part of a coherent plan which will get us out of local restrictions.

“Otherwise Ministers will further lose the public’s trust and be rewriting the rules again – which may be too late to save lives, jobs and businesses.”

Leaders of West Yorkshire Councils

“Although we have avoided ‘Tier Three’ (Very High Risk) status at this moment, we are far from complacent.

“Efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic must be locally-led and properly funded so that we can carry out the local contact-tracing and deep community engagement that national approaches cannot deliver.

“This must be supported by a comprehensive package of measures that sustains businesses and protects jobs until restrictions can be lifted, so that the progress we have made in improving the standards of living for our communities is not lost.

“We need the government to urgently respond so that we can address the rising infection rates that are putting our NHS services under increasing pressure, and to avoid the additional damage to the West Yorkshire economy that would be caused by moving into “Very High” risk restrictions.”