The decision to move the whole of West Yorkshire into tier three - very high alert - coronavirus restrictions from next Monday was made "with great reluctance", according to the county's council bosses.

Image source, Reuters/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo

In a joint statement, the leaders of all West Yorkshire's local authorities said the spread of Covid-19 in the county was at "a critical juncture".

"Not only are infections rising in our region, particularly among the elderly, but we already have evidence the NHS is starting to struggle to deliver essential elective care," the statement said.

"While we continue to have concerns about how we got here, and how restrictions will be supported, we will only come through this difficult period if we all pull together.

"We must take every measure to face this challenge as a community. It’s only by everyone doing their bit that we will beat this virus and get life back to normal, where we can do the things we enjoy," the statement concluded.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, added it was "a very difficult decision for anyone to take".

"We realise the significance of the economic impact this will have, but we're very mindful of the fact the virus is at a state where we need to take measures, particularly with regard to our hospital admissions," she said.

West Yorkshire will be moved into the highest tier of the coronavirus alert level - tier three - from 00:01 next Monday, it's been confirmed.

This means people living in West Yorkshire will not be allowed to meet socially with anybody who is not part of your household, or support bubble, indoors.

People cannot meet in private or pub gardens, but can meet in parks, beaches, countryside or forests, as long as they are not in a group of more than six.

Pubs and bars must close unless they are serving substantial meals. Alcohol can only be served as part of a meal.

People are being advised not to travel into or out of tier three areas, other than for work, education, youth services or because of caring responsibilities.

Extra measures for tier three areas can be introduced, following discussions between central and local government.

The restrictions will be reviewed again within a maximum of 28 days.

The government is to give an extra £46.6m support funding to West Yorkshire as tier three - very high alert - coronavirus restrictions are imposed on the county from Monday, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Liam McBurney/PA Wire

The new restrictions, which, among other things, mean people will not be allowed to mix indoors with anyone socially who isn't part of their household or support "bubble", come into effect at 00:01 on Monday morning.

Leeds City Council's chief executive Tom Riordan said a multi-million pound support package had been negotiated with the government for West Yorkshire.

That cash will be in addition to the tier two funding already agreed, Mr Riordan said.

There would also be an additional £12.7m for testing and tracing, he added.

The move to tier three comes as the head of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust says the number of Covid-19 patients in the city's hospitals has increased to 268.

That number is higher than in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Julian Hartley, the trust's chief executive.

The whole of West Yorkshire will be under tier three - very high alert - coronavirus restrictions from Monday, the leader of Leeds City Council has confirmed.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The restrictions will come into force from 00:01 on Monday morning, according to Councillor Judith Blake.

The new rules mean that people living across West Yorkshire will not be allowed to meet socially with anybody who is not part of their household, or support bubble, indoors.

As part of tier three, people cannot meet in private or pub gardens, but can meet in parks, beaches, countryside or forests, as long as they are not in a group of more than six.

Pubs and bars must close unless they are serving substantial meals. Alcohol can only be served as part of a meal.

Casinos, soft play, adult gaming centres, betting shops and car boot sales will all be shut under the new restrictions.

People are also being advised not to travel into or out of tier three areas, other than for work, education, youth services or because of caring responsibilities.

The whole of West Yorkshire will be under tier 3 - very high alert - coronavirus restrictions from Monday, it's just been confirmed.

More to follow...

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A new Covid-19 testing site has opened in South Yorkshire, as rates of the virus continue to rise in the county.

Image source, Reuters/Phil Noble

The new testing site at Cudworth, near Barnsley, is for residents experiencing symptoms of the virus - a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste.

The walk-through facility can be fund at the Dorothy Hyman Sports Centre Car Park on Snydale Road.

A Barnsley Council spokesperson said: “The new site is situated so as to be easily accessible without a car.

"Those being tested will be required to follow public health measures, including social distancing, not travelling by taxi or public transport, practising good personal hygiene and wearing a face covering throughout, including while travelling to and from the testing centre.

"Anyone testing positive for the virus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace to help them track their contacts."

New tier two coronavirus restrictions which will be enforced in Hull from Saturday are "not strong enough to have a significant effect on driving down the R rate locally", the Labour MP for Hull East has said.

Image source, Google

The tier two restrictions, which will affect Hull and East Yorkshire as well as northern Lincolnshire, mean socialising between households in an indoor setting, including homes, pubs and restaurants will be against the law.

People will only be allowed to mix indoors with their own households or support bubbles under the new restrictions.

Karl Turner MP says the move, which means the city will be under "high alert" coronavirus restrictions from 00:01 on Saturday morning, will also be "disproportionately difficult" for the hospitality sector.

He adds: "I am also deeply frustrated that despite higher levels of deprivation, Hull is to receive the same level of additional support as the East Riding.

"I made have made that clear to government ministers and will continue to fight for a fair deal for Hull."

The leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council says he's "confident" local residents will "respond positively" to the announcement of tier two coronavirus restrictions in the county from Saturday.

Image source, Reuters/Molly Darlington

The restrictions mean that from 00:01 on Saturday morning, households mixing in any indoor setting, including homes, pubs and restaurants, will be banned.

East Riding council leader Richard Burton says so far residents and businesses have been "fantastic in their efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19".

"I know that this news will be met with understandable concern and frustration, but we must now ask for that same selfless resolve again so that we can come through this together.

"While the situation continues to be challenging, both in terms of public health and the economy, we can see a way forward and light is beginning to shine at the end of the tunnel."

The chief executive of Hull City Council has urged residents to "pull together and sacrifice more" to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

Matt Jukes made the comments on Twitter shortly after it was announced that Hull would be placed under tier two restrictions from 00.01 on Saturday.

He said: "Whilst that's hugely difficult, if we can do this it can make a difference, limit the spread of Covid-19 and, hopefully, avoid further restrictions in future.":

With the news that East Yorkshire, Hull and northern Lincolnshire are to be put into tier two - "high alert" coronavirus restrictions, what does that mean for people living there?

It means that from 00:01 on Saturday, socialising between households in any indoor setting, including homes, pubs and restaurants, will be against the law., external

People are only allowed to mix indoors with their own households or support bubbles.

In other words, you can't go into your friend or relative's house - and you can't arrange to go for a drink or meal indoors with someone you don't live with.

This also applies if you travel outside of the affected areas, external. Schools and workplaces are not affected.

East Yorkshire, Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire are to be moved to tier 2 - high alert - coronavirus restrictions from 00:01 on Saturday morning, the Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed.

Image source, Reuters/Phil Noble

Tier 2 means socialising between households in an indoor setting, including homes, pubs and restaurants will be against the law.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "We continue to see a worrying rise in cases right across the country, and it is clear decisive action is needed.

"We have agreed with local leaders to move more areas into the high local Covid alert level this week.

"These restrictions are challenging for us all, but it is only by working together and following the rules that we will bring down the rates of infection.

"A failure to act now will only lead to longer disruption and greater economic damage," Mr Hancock added.

The East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire will be moved to tier 2 - high alert - coronavirus restrictions from Saturday morning, it's been confirmed.

More to follow...

A 13-year-old boy has been left with "life-threatening" injuries after being hit by a car in Sheffield, police say.

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It happened as the boy was crossing the road outside Valley Park Family Centre on Norton Avenue in Gleadless at about 18:10 on Wednesday, according to the South Yorkshire force.

It's believed he was struck by a silver Vauxhall Insignia.

He had to be airlifted to hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries, officers say.

Anyone who saw what happened, or who has dash cam footage from the area at the time of the incident, is being asked to contact police.

Dr John Wright and two consultants describe the immense pressure Bradford Royal Infirmary is coming under.

Several staff members at the Haribo sweet factory site in Pontefract have tested positive for Covid-19, the firm has said.

Image source, Google

In a statement, a spokesperson from Haribo said: "We can confirm there is a cluster of cases, with 30 colleagues testing positive for Covid-19 at our Pontefract site.

"Each individual and those that have been in close contact are now self-isolating."

Strict health and safety measures were in place at the site and the company had gone "above and beyond" government guidance, the firm added..

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Sheffield City Council has pledged to pay for free school meals over the Christmas holidays if the government continues to maintain its decision not to extend the scheme beyond term time.

Image source, THE SCHOOL FOOD PLAN

The council is currently providing food vouchers over half term after a Labour motion to extend the scheme over holidays until Easter 2021 was defeated, though there have been some concerns about delays in providing the vouchers.

Council leader Julie Dore said she would "guarantee" to fund the meals "if the government does not respond to the national outcry".

On the delays she said: "Our teams have been working hard to get our offer of free school meal vouchers to parents as soon as possible. But sending out and sourcing 22,000 vouchers is in fact a huge logistical undertaking."

She said the vouchers would be accepted in supermarkets this week and after half term.

Since the motion was defeated Boris Johnson has refused to back down on the decision not to provide further funding despite growing pressure from MPs and the campaign spearheaded by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford.

York's local Covid-19 test and trace service, which began a week ago, is reaching about 80% of people the national system was unable to contact, one of the city's health bosses says.

Image source, Getty Images

Fiona Phillips, the city's assistant director of public health, said the local system complemented the national one and was achieving results.

She said: "One of the key measures in controlling the virus is doing that contact tracing. We're a week in now and it's been a really positive start.

"In the first five days, we had 122 people that we were asked to contact by the national team - and of those we were successfully able to contact 81%."

The York test and trace team is able to offer advice about self-isolation, where to get help locally and have detailed conversations about individuals an infected person might have been on contact in the days before they developed symptoms.

All green bin collections in Doncaster have been stopped after a "significant" number of bin collectors tested positive for coronavirus, external, it's been confirmed.

Writing on social media, Doncaster Council said: "A significant number of bin collectors working for our contractors, Suez, have tested positive for coronavirus.

"Therefore a decision has been made to halt all green bin collections for the remainder of the year from Monday 2 November."

The service will stop because there are now fewer staff members available, the council says.

It adds that not collecting green bins will "enable black and blue bins to be prioritised".

Fire crews tackling a blaze at a workshop containing propane cylinders in North Yorkshire will be on site for "some time", the fire service has said.

Image source, NYFS

Fire crews from Bedale, Northallerton, Ripon, Richmond, Thirsk and Harrogate, are dealing with the blaze on Roman Road in Leeming, according to North Yorkshire Fire Service.

The workshop building, which is approximately 30m x 20m, is described by the service as "well alight".

Drivers on the A1 are being warned to take special care in the area as smoke may be crossing the carriageway, the fire service adds.

Social distancing has ended fundraising activities like jumble sales, the Scout Association says.