Covid-19: York and North Yorkshire move to Tier 3

The director of public health said the move to tier three was needed to control the virus

York residents must "redouble" their efforts against coronavirus as the city faces tougher restrictions, the council's leader has said.

Keith Aspden's comments came as the the health secretary confirmed York and North Yorkshire would move to tier three from 31 December.

The decision means all hospitality businesses must close apart from those offering takeaway.

The area has seen a significant rise in its infection rates in recent weeks

Mr Aspden said the move to tighter restrictions would have an impact on businesses, but said support would be available.

"This is a cruel and unforgiving virus which has impacted all our lives," he said.

"In recent weeks, coronavirus rates across the city and country have increased rapidly making the change in restrictions necessary.

"We know how much people have done to slow the spread over the last year. It is now time to redouble our efforts to keep friends, families and neighbours safe."

• More Yorkshire stories

The city of York recorded 235 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 25 December. In the previous week it was 115 cases.

The city's director of public health Sharon Stoltz accepted it was a challenging time for people.

"Whilst no-one wants more changes to restrictions they are needed following a rise in cases in the city," she said.

"Whilst the vaccine is being rolled out we must all keep doing all we can to keep ourselves and those we love safe."

Ms Stoltz said there was evidence of an increase in household mixing and people visiting from higher tier areas

Ms Stoltz said the situation had deteriorated since the end of national lockdown in early December.

"A few weeks ago we had the lowest rate in the Yorkshire and Humber region, our rate had dropped below 60. That situation has now changed and our case rate is now higher than the regional average."

She said the rise in case numbers was due to many factors including an increase in household mixing and people travelling from areas in higher tiers.

Richard Flinton, chair of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, said the move to tier three was a "disappointing" but "understandable" one.

Mr Flinton was sympathetic to hospitality businesses which he said will feel the "enormous" impact of closures over the New Year.

He said: "This is a key moment for us, this variant of the Covid-19 virus is more transmissible and therefore we have to be even more precautionary in terms of giving greater distance to one another, washing our hands and wearing face coverings.

"I am sure people will be concerned at this time, but I have absolutely every confidence that based our past history and actions we have taken together that we can once again bear down on the current situation to get a grip on the virus."

Florencia Clifford of the Partisan Cafe in York is critical of the restrictions her business faces

Florencia Clifford of the Partisan Café on Micklegate in York said: "Hospitality has been made a scapegoat, because you go to shops and there's no social distancing.

"We are so careful here, you know, people have asked me throughout this time 'well what are your plans?' - and I just think, well, we adapt."

Hugo Hildyard who also runs the Partisan Café added: "The business itself we can keep ticking along, but we wouldn't want it [Covid restrictions] to go on for too long, we'll survive, I'm sure we'll survive."

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or send video here.