It was announced today (Thursday 29th October) that West Yorkshire will be subject to Tier 3 level restrictions as of midnight on Sunday. This is a result of the risk from Covid virus being deemed very high. This will no doubt frustrate many and I do feel for everyone across the constituency as we have been subject to local restrictions since the end of July. With reference to the data, Bradford District is the council area with the highest levels of Covid across West Yorkshire with 483.5 cases per 100,000 of the population.
Directly protecting lives and livelihoods is, of course, key but the impact on our hospital capacity has to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind. As of last weekend, inpatient beds at the Airedale Hospital are now at capacity and as a result the Hospital have taken the decision to postpone any elective surgery that needs an overnight stay for the next two weeks. Urgent and emergency cases and cancer surgery will be carrying on as normal, but if Intensive Care Units become full due to serious Covid patients the impact could be deadly. Day case activity is continuing, with their hardworking teams ensuring all activity is based on clinical priority.
We do need to reduce the spread of Covid transmission dramatically. Whilst I do not in any way favour further restrictions being imposed on our livelihoods, I remain hopeful the Tier 3 measures will help reduce pressure on our NHS and protect lives.
Our government is supporting West Yorkshire Councils with extra financial measures going to support businesses and protect jobs in our region. Further information will follow on this, but such a funding package will be top of additional funding already given to councils to distribute.
I have also sought reassurance that gyms can remain open to provide the mental and physical stimulus that people really need right now.
I do seek further clarity and more detail on certain measures that will form part of Tier 3, as well as further financial support for particular sectors who have already been very hard hit.
Joining other colleagues by writing to the Prime Minister earlier this week, I have made it clear to government, it is now more important than ever that we understand how we will emerge from the toughest level of restrictions so that our region will come back fighting fit.
One question residents will inevitably ask is how long will this go on for? At present, restrictions have been imposed for a period of 28 days. There is no clear criteria identified for scaling back restrictions which is a major cause for concern for me, and I have therefore queried this. I would like to see 3 measures introduced to provide clarity which sets a course for reducing restrictions. If a reduction is experienced on them, then we should be having conversations about scaling back. These three tests are:
-What is the ‘R’ rate of infection in the restricted area?
-How many deaths from Covid are sadly reported at a local level?
-How is the virus affecting local NHS capacity, particularly at the Airedale Hospital which serves the majority of people in my constituency?
Further information will be provided in due course, but for a full explanation of what Tier 3 level restrictions mean for you, your family and your businesses please click here.
https://www.bradford.gov.uk/health/health-advice-and-support/coronaviru…