The whole of Nottinghamshire will be placed under the toughest coronavirus restrictions from midnight Friday after a deal was reached between the Government and all nine local councils.
As well as the standard Tier 3 restrictions, the councils have also agreed a ban on selling alcohol after 9pm, the closure of all hospitality venues unless offering ‘substantial meals’ or a takeaway service, and the closure of some indoor entertainment and tourism venues.
Originally only Broxtowe, Gedling, Nottingham and Rushcliffe were due to move to 'Very High' alert from today but the announcement was delayed by 24 hours to include the whole of the county.
Nottinghamshire has one of the highest COVID-19 infection rates in the country, with the weekly rate standing at 364 per 100,000 people in the county.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘We have seen infection rates rising sharply across Nottinghamshire, and in close collaboration with local leaders we have agreed on a package of local measures to stop this virus in its tracks. I understand how difficult life is under these restrictions and the impact they have on families and businesses, but we never take these decisions lightly.’