The Public Health Directors of Greater Manchester have encouraged anyone who has travelled to Manchester from a Tier 4 area to isolate for 10 days.
Covid-19: Visitors from tier 4 and Wales 'must self-isolate' – advice from Directors of Public Health in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands @ADPHUK @LGAcomms https://t.co/9d862NurMq
— Jeanelle de Gruchy (@Jeanelleuk) December 21, 2020
This comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson created a new Tier 4 for London and surrounding areas last weekend. This was due to the discovery of a ‘new mutation‘ of Covid-19 found in the area.
Christmas staycations and family visits now involve the 10-day isolation if you have travelled out of Tier 4 to a lesser tier.
The Tier 4 announcement on Saturday meant that those from these areas would not be allowed to travel out of the Tier 4 area as it is against government guidelines.
However, scenes at London rail and tube stations shortly after the new tier announcement on Saturday were chaotic, with many members of the public fleeing the city.
Chaos at a London Tube station before #londonlockdown. #christmasiscancelled pic.twitter.com/G18L27p3np
— Raptors Fanatic (@RaptorsFury) December 19, 2020
Boris Johnson made the announcement shortly after 5 pm on Saturday, giving panicked Londoners only 6 hours to flee the city.
This has raised concerns with Greater Manchester Public Health Directors, who think it will only push the North back, after their steady decline in Covid cases.
Manchester City Council tweeted that Mancunians ‘can’t see anyone from a Tier 4 area.’
New guidance on Christmas restrictions means you can only see a maximum of two other households (your ‘Christmas bubble’) on Christmas Day (25 December). You can't see anyone from a Tier 4 area.
Where possible, seek alternatives to meeting in person.
Stay safe this Christmas. pic.twitter.com/00n6HYDhMA
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) December 21, 2020
The situation has had mixed reviews on social media.
Some are unhappy with how those in Tier 4 have travelled North. Others argue that people should not be forced to spend Christmas alone if their family are up North and encourage travel.
Stuck in tier 3, still, yet infection rates are dropping in Leeds, I can’t travel to York to see my folks but all these people can travel from a hot bed of Covid, by train, to Leeds. Absolute whoppers the lot of them. Tier 4 in two weeks then 😤 https://t.co/obCyCsqeIv
— Charlotte (@lotslottie16) December 19, 2020
If you are in a Tier 4 area, do no put yourself through a Christmas alone. It is honestly not worth it. These new guidelines will not be enforced, just go and see your families
— Olivia Lever (@Liv_Lever) December 19, 2020
Let us know what you think of the new restrictions and whether or not people should continue to travel @PieRadioUk.
