Covid-19 outbreaks at secondary schools and care homes ‘the reason’ for Peterborough moving into Tier 3

Cllr John Holdich said the Government refused the authority’s requests to allow it to ask academy trusts to shut schools in the final week of term after outbreaks at Jack Hunt School, Thomas Deacon Academy, Queen Katharine Academy and Hampton College.

He believes the decision has made it harder for the city to prevent rising rates of the virus which will result in Peterborough facing the toughest restrictions going forward.

PJ Care’s Eagle Wood Neurological Care Centre in Bretton and Werrington Lodge Care Home have also seen recent outbreaks.

Peterborough will move up from Tier 2 on Saturday which means pubs and restaurants will have to close apart from for takeaway orders. Fans will also be banned from Peterborough United home matches.

The rest of Cambridgeshire will remain in Tier 2.

The announcement was made by Health Secretary Matt Hancock in the House of Commons on Thursday morning.

Peterborough’s Covid infection rate is 296.6 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to December 12 which represented 600 new cases compared to 205.7 the previous week.

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Cllr Holdich said: “It’s been coming out of secondary schools and families and we’ve had two large outbreaks with staff and patients at elderly people’s homes.

“We asked permission to close schools but never got it.

“There are lots of older people getting the virus who need hospital attention. There are 90 people in hospital, and during the first lockdown the highest number was 40. The ambulance service is rushed off its feet.

“But what difference is (going into Tier 3) going to make? There’s no evidence restaurants are causing the spread. Someone has to do something I guess.

“Peterborough has been congratulated for the work it’s been doing, but this is disappointing for businesses.

“We will work with the combined authority and government to see if we can get more money for businesses.

“If we’d been able to close schools a week before Christmas the rates would be lower. The pupils come out of schools and hang around together, and it’s not just kids but teachers getting it as well.

“Still, people are going to hospital and they’re getting full and staff are having to isolate. From the Government’s point of view it has to stop the NHS becoming overwhelmed.”

Cllr Holdich said that rapid testing in schools and care homes is likely to begin in January, while new testing stations across the city are also set to open shortly.

Tier levels have been decided by looking at a number of factors, including case rates in all age groups and, in particular, among the over 60s and vulnerable residents.

How quickly the rate is rising or falling is also a key part of the consideration, as is the pressure on NHS services in the area.

The tiers are being reviewed every two weeks by the Government, which means the next announcement is likely to take place on New Year’s Eve.

Some restrictions will be relaxed over the Christmas period allowing restricted mixing of households over a five day period - just a few days after the Tier 3 restrictions are brought in.

The rules in England mean three households will be able to meet from December 23 to December 27. However, there have been strong warnings to residents to minimise interactions during the five day break as much as possible, and to take measures to keep the mixing as Covid safe as possible.