Is Sunderland going into Tier 2 or staying in Tier 3? What we know about this week's lockdown review

Sunderland could be staying in Tier 3 or heading for Tier 2 lockdown restrictions when the Tier system is reviewed on Wednesday.
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Currently, Sunderland is in Tier 3 lockdown restrictions, the highest possible restrictions which means that pubs and restaurants are not allowed to open to customers and household mixing is banned.

A review on the restrictions is set for Wednesday, December 16, with any changes to Tiers for any area set to be announced before being put in place from Saturday, December 19.

What Tier is Sunderland likely to be in?

Sunderland city centre.Sunderland city centre.
Sunderland city centre.
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Sunderland is currently in Tier 3, but the city's case rates have fallen in recent weeks. The current case rate for the seven days to December 9 is 157.0 cases per 100,000 people.

London currently has higher case rates than Sunderland, but London is in Tier 2 and Sunderland is in Tier 3.

The City of London seven-day rate in the seven days to December 9 is 236.6.

However, there is a suggestion that, rather than move Sunderland to Tier 2, the Government could move London to Tier 3 and keep all of the north in the same Tier.

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Sunderland City Council leader Graeme Miller believes it will be a firm “no” to any move for the foreseeable future.

"I think we will still be in Tier 3, but I will be delighted to be proved wrong,” he said.

"If you look now, we have around 160 cases per 100,000 people, and that stood at 500 cases per 100,000 back at the high peak in October and November.

"But that is still too high for the Government. If you look at London, where the spread is out of control and they have 300 cases, it is in Tier 2, as is the South East, and that is because it is a political decision, it is different to the North.”

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With that being said, it seems likely that Sunderland will remain in Tier 3 going into Christmas.

The next Tier review after this week is due on December 30, meaning that Sunderland could move into Tier 2 for New Year. However we won't know for certain until the Government announcement.

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What are the Tier restrictions based on?

The Department of Health said decisions on Tier levels are based on several factors, including case rates in all age groups and especially among the over 60s.

How quickly case rates are rising or falling will also be taken into account, as will pressure on the NHS.

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The final decisions will be made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the Covid Operations Committee.

What did Prime Minister Boris Johnson say about moving Tiers?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said during a visit to the region the Government would “be fair” looking at data in coming days but that it “can’t afford to let the virus get out of control” and allow a third spike.

He said: "Everyone instinctively understands where we’ve got to in the fight, we all know the salvation, the cavalry is over the hill and the vaccines are already being rolled out, but it will take time.”

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