South Holland will remain in the highest tier of COVID-19 restrictions, the government has announced today (Thursday).
All of Lincolnshire will remain in Tier 3 at least for the next two weeks.
South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes, had hoped that the district could be moved down to Tier 2.
But the member of parliament for the district told The Voice that the rate of virus infections in the area had increased from 110 cases per 100,000 to 160 cases per 100,00 in the latest figures he’d seen this morning.
That, and the rising cases elsewhere including in Peterborough which has been moved up a tier into tier three, meant South Holland staying in tier three.
Sir John said: “Michael Gove said to me that no-one has fought harder for their district than me and that we’ve won the argument and going forward the government will look at areas from a district level.
“That means we’ll be reviewed every two weeks.
“Sadly the numbers in South Holland have been rising. It’s still below the national average though and has the lowest rate in Lincolnshire.
“My anxiety now is to protect my constituents and the health and safety of their families.
“I did vote for the christmas break and I know people will behave sensibly during the festive period.
“I now need to work hard towards a compensation package for local businesses.
“I’m working closely with Gary Porter and the district council on that as I understand the strain a number of local businesses are under.”
Responding to a question from Gainsborough MP Sir Edward Leigh on behalf of local MPs, Health Secretary Matt Hancock specifically mentioned the possibility of South Holland and South Lincolnshire moving down to Tier 2, but stated it wasn’t currently possible with levels so high in nearby Boston and Peterborough.
Sir John said he was pleased that areas were being decided on at district level. He continued: “The good new is they’re going to look at it at a district level every two weeks.
“We’ve now got to get the numbers down again.
“If the numbers were as they were when we first went into Tier 3 we’d have had a very good chance that we’d be placed in Tier 2, but they’ve got worse.
“It’s a disappointment, but you can’t disagree with the logic of it and you’ve got to recognise the facts for your argument.
“We’ve got to pull together to try and beat this thing and with the vaccine, it’s important to note that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
