As a 2^nd wave of COVID-19 started to take a grip on the country the prime minister set out his plan for a simplified 3-tier system to grade every area of England dependant on the severity of risk in the area. The announcement was made to counteract the danger of the NHS being overwhelmed by the resurgence of the pandemic and to reduce its spread.

With more people in hospital due to COVID-19 than when the country went into full lockdown on 23^rd March, it is vital that restrictive action is taken. As at 12 October, England had 3,665 patients in hospital with covid-19, whereas on 23 March the number was 3,097

The government’s new 3-tier system has introduced increasing levels of restrictions and rules dependant on the designated level of risk, aiming to simplify the current process of assigning lockdown rules and restrictions:

 

Green Alert Level 1 – This is the lowest level that we have all recently been adhering to and represents the rules the majority of the UK have been following since early September.

Amber Alert Level 2 – Tighter restrictions are introduced here, which sees household mixing limited and social contact in private homes and gardens once again banned with visits to places such as care homes strongly advised against. This has also seen the government advising against all but essential journeys being undertaken.

Red Alert Level 3 – This is the highest level in the Government’s three-tiered lockdown plan, which sees the affected areas under strict lockdown rules similar to those first imposed on the country back in March.

In summary, figures recently released by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer clearly show that we are now in the second wave of COVID-19. It is currently centred in the North West and North East of England with the likes of Manchester and Liverpool suffering most, but it will spread quickly to other areas.