A DECISION on whether parts of the region will see tighter lockdown restrictions has been delayed as talks are set to continue over the weekend, The Northern Echo can confirm. 

Council and authority leaders in the Tees Valley, which includes Darlington, have today been in talks with Government over how Tier 3 restrictions will be imposed across the area.

SEE MORE: Parts of the North-East to remain under Tier 2 - but talks continue for the Tees Valley

But council leaders will instead met with the Government on Monday, in order to consider what restrictions are needed to combat the rise in confirmed Covid cases and hospitalisation rates.

A decision had originally been due today, with initial reports suggesting that Tier 3 restrictions would follow on either Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

But this afternoon, the leaders of Redcar and Cleveland, Darlington, Stockton and Hartlepool Councils, the Mayor of Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley Mayor confirmed that a decision had not been made.

In a statement, Councillor Mary Lanigan, Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said: "We are having ongoing discussions with the Government about its intention to take the Tees Valley into Tier 3 restrictions.

"Nothing has been agreed and we anticipate further discussions on Monday.

"We will continue to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our residents, supporting businesses and saving jobs, as we press for the best possible outcome for the Tees Valley."

On Thursday, Conservative MP for Redcar Jacob Young said he believed a move from Tier 2 to Tier 3, in the Tees Valley, was now “quite likely” to happen with new restrictions in place within a week.

He said: “I think because our cases are drastically rising again, those talks will be starting again in the very near future.

“I would not be surprised to see tier three restrictions coming into place within the next week or so.”

Areas under Tier 3 restrictions will see pubs that do not serve ‘substantial food’ ordered to shut, and households banned from mixing both indoors, and in most outdoor settings – including in private gardens.

'Government intends to take Tees Valley into Tier 3'

In a statement on behalf of the Leaders of Redcar and Cleveland, Darlington, Stockton and Hartlepool Councils, the Mayor of Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley Mayor, Cllr Mary Lanigan, Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, they previously confirmed the Government was intending to impose Tier 3 rules on the area.

They previously said: “The Government informed us late last night of their intention to take the Tees Valley into Tier Three restrictions.

“We have had an initial meeting with Ministers where they again stressed this intention due to the current infection rate and the increased number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid-19.

“We will be having further discussions tomorrow but nothing has been agreed.

“Our priorities remain the health and wellbeing of our residents, supporting businesses and saving jobs, and we will continue to press for the best possible outcome for the Tees Valley.”

Analysis of Public Health England data shows that almost 2,300 new Covid cases were reported in the Tees Valley, in the seven days leading up to October 23.

Figures for the previous week, in the seven days leading up to October 17, showed almost 2,000 new Covid cases had been confirmed. 

Meanwhile, analysis of NHS England data showed that the Tees Valley had seen a rise in Covid hospital deaths in the past three weeks – with trusts serving the area recording 65 patient deaths between October 4 and October 23. 

What about the rest of the region?

As the statement was issued, it was confirmed that council areas in the North of the region would remain under Tier 2 lockdown restrictions.

Those areas include County Durham, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland, North and South Tyneside.

In a joint-statement from the councils, they said: "Since we introduced restrictions on September 18, thanks to the collective efforts of the North East, we have seen the rate of Covid-19 infections slowing down but sadly they are still too high.

"Action taken locally in September worked and has helped us to remain in Tier 2. We have gone from being one of the areas with the worst rates of infection to being more in line with what is happening across the UK.

"Our Directors of Public Health met with the Chief Medical Officer on Wednesday, who agreed our region's data was plateauing, but it is clear the situation the North-East still finds itself in is concerning.

"In particular, NHS bed occupancy has continued to climb. Although we have not yet suffered the pressure seen in Liverpool and the North-West, we have serious concerns that we could be heading for a strain on the health service just as winter begins to bite."