Lancaster MP expresses 'frustration' over Covid tiering system as city records infection rate half the England average

Lancaster MP Cat Smith has urged the government to take the district's low infection rate into account when drawing up the new three-tier Covid restrictions.
Cat Smith MP.Cat Smith MP.
Cat Smith MP.

As of Tuesday, Lancaster recorded an infection rate of 109.6 cases per 100,000 as a rolling figure in the week leading up to November 20.

This is by far the lowest rate in Lancashire and almost half the average rate for England overall of 217.6.

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By comparison, other areas of Lancashire are far higher, with Hyndburn recording 435.6 and Burnley at 382.4.

Lancaster MP Cat Smith argued in Parliament on Monday that the figures should be taken into account when the new tiering system is officially rolled out once the national lockdown ends next week.

The three-tier system for England will extend until spring, with rules in many areas being tougher than before the lockdown. Further details will be revealed on Thursday.

Ms Smith said people in both Lancaster and Wyre - which has the second lowest rate of 144.5 - have been 'frustrated' that they are bound by the rest of the county when it comes to the tiering system, despite having lower infection rates.

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“Lancaster and Wyre’s infection rates are the lowest in Lancashire and around half the average rate for England,” she said. “It would be unfair therefore if Lancaster and Wyre were placed in the higher tiers because other areas in Lancashire have yet been able to bring infections under control.”

Ms Smith says she’s been contacted by dozens of business owners across Lancaster and Wyre who face a ‘grim’ couple of months as they fight to stay afloat.

She says it’s critical that local authorities are consulted and included in the decision-making process over which areas go into which tiers.

Addressing the Prime Minister she said: “Under the previous tiering system my constituents in Lancaster and Wyre have been frustrated that although they have infection rates at the bottom of the Lancashire table of infections, they are bound by the rest of the county when it comes to that tiering system.

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"Can the Prime Minister reassure my constituents and businesses who operate in my constituency that district councils will be taken into account and consulted when it comes to deciding which tiers we are going into?”

The Prime Minister responded by saying he sympathised with constituents in Lancaster and Wyre.

He said: “I thank them for the efforts they have gone to help bring the virus down in their area. It's very difficult to draw up the boundaries of these regions in a way that is satisfactory, but what I hope is that people will work together to get a test, to kick Covid out, and reduce the virus - to drive down the virus - and thereby to reduce the restrictions in their area.”

Public Health England figures show that as of Tuesday, Lancaster City Council area had 3,991 recorded cases (up from 3,965 the previous day).

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However, the number of positive Covid-19 cases being reported at Lancaster University continues to fall.

During the week leading up to November 23 just one student living on campus and one living off campus reported positive cases, along with six members of staff (one a historic case reported to the university during the week).

Meanwhile, a further 18 deaths from coronavirus have been recorded in Morecambe Bay hospitals over the last seven days.

This brings the total of deaths after testing positive for coronavirus within the last 28 days at hospitals run by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust to 291, with the numbers roughly split between the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital in Barrow.