Coronavirus: Middlesbrough seeks household mixing ban

Middlesbrough remains on the government's watchlist following an increase in cases

Middlesbrough Council is to ask the government to place a restriction on people from different households socialising inside homes.

The move is in response to a rise in virus cases, with latest figures showing 122 per 100,000 of population.

The council said it was concerned that in the absence of a local proposal, the government would impose harsher restrictions on the town.

It comes as further measures are being placed across parts of the North East.

Details of the proposal, which is being finalised, would include banning people from different households socialising inside homes (with exemptions covering those living alone, support bubbles, childcare and caring for the vulnerable).

However, there would be no change to the current "rule of six" in respect of meeting others outside of homes in Covid-secure venues such as cafes, restaurants and pubs.

'Breathe down necks'

Middlesbrough's elected mayor, Andy Preston, said test and trace data showed the infection was mainly spreading within households.

He said: "We need to protect the vulnerable, but we can't kill jobs, kill society, there's got to be a middle ground.

"There's a balance to be struck here because the long winter months ahead will be lonely for many people.

"This isn't about people barricading themselves in their homes for months on end... I don't want people to be banned from meeting a cousin or friend for a coffee or a bite to eat.

"Businesses can be Covid secure and as a council we'll continue to breathe down the necks of unsafe venues and promote the places doing their bit."

However, Simon Clarke, the Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said that while he was a "great admirer of the mayor" he was unable to agree with the decision to seek new restrictions.

He was one of a number of local MPs who signed a letter to local council leaders on Monday expressing reservations against imposing additional measures.

It said that a ban on home visits would "condemn thousands of local people to loneliness and isolation", and called for restrictions to be "targeted at a postcode level in response to the risk".

Leaders of Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland councils earlier said they were not yet seeking further coronavirus restrictions, but asked people to minimise contact between households.