THE North-East, including the Tees Valley, will be under near-lockdown Tier 4 Covid rules come tomorrow morning, while North Yorkshire faces Tier 3.

The North-East, parts of the North West, The Midlands and parts of the South West of England will go into the toughest Tier 4 of coronavirus restrictions from Thursday, December 31, the Department of Health said.

This covers the whole of the North-East, including the Tees Valley, which has previously been categorised separately. 

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Sharply rising cases and the hospitalisations that follow demonstrate the need to act where the virus is spreading.”

He told MPs that the majority of new cases recorded yesterday “are believed to be the new variant”.

Mr Hancock added: “Unfortunately, this new variant is now spreading across most of England and cases are doubling fast.

“It is therefore necessary to apply Tier 4 measures to a wider area, including the remaining parts of the South East, as well as large parts of the Midlands, the North West, the North East and the South West.”

This means additional 20 million people will be in Tier 4 of the Government’s Covid-19 restrictions from December 31 - a total of 44 million people or 78 per cent of the population of England.

North Yorkshire has been moved up into Tier 3, which was anticipated by the County Council. 

Mr Hancock added: “Even in most areas not moving into Tier 4, cases are rising too, and it is therefore necessary to apply Tier 3 measures more broadly too – including in Liverpool and North Yorkshire.

“The rest of Yorkshire remains in Tier 3. These changes will take effect from 00.01am tomorrow morning.

“The new variant means that three-quarters of the population are now going to be in Tier 4 and almost all of the country in Tiers 3 and 4.

“And I know that Tier 3 and 4 measures place a significant burden on people, and especially on businesses affected, but I am afraid it is absolutely necessary because of the number of cases that we’ve seen.

“But where we are still able to give places greater freedoms, we will continue to do so.”

Nowhere is now in Tier 2 while the only Isles of Scilly is in Tier 1.

LA7, which includes Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham local authorities, is calling for a national lockdown now to ensure the spread of the new variant is slowed and efforts can be focussed on the roll out of the vaccine. 

Commenting on the region being placed under Tier 4 restrictions Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said he understands the frustration felt by people and businesses in the region.

He said: “Moving Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool into Tier 4, the very highest level of restrictions, will be incredibly disappointing to businesses across the region, but advice from Public Health England and the scientific advisers has strongly recommended that we need to move into Tier 4.

"I understand the frustration felt by many people, especially business owners, at the increased restrictions, but the outpouring of community spirit in the face of the coronavirus has shown that even during one of our darkest periods our community spirit cannot be broken.

“We have made good process reducing the number of infections, but in order to have Tier 4 restrictions lifted as quickly as possible, it’s critical now more than ever that local people continue to follow the rules – wash your hands, wear a mask and keep your distance from other people. If we don’t follow these rules the virus will continue to spread, and we will have to spend even longer in the highest tier.

“The last nine months have been incredibly difficult for local people and businesses across the region, but with two vaccines now approved 2021 can now be a year of hope and recovery.”

Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said Labour would support the tougher regulations when put to a vote in the Commons on Wednesday.