Buckinghamshire Council Leader: 'Bucks at Significant risk of being placed in tier three'

Writing to Residents, Council Leader Martin Tett said:

"You will be aware from the television and radio that this week the Government has decided that London must be put into Tier 3, the highest level of COVID-19 restrictions.

"In Buckinghamshire it is only a few weeks since we came out of the second lockdown and I wrote to you saying that we had made good progress in reducing the rate of infection. We had been placed in ‘Tier 2’, the second highest level of restrictions. I urged us to keep following ‘the rules’ and I sincerely hoped that we could potentially re-enter Tier 1.

"I have to tell you that the daily reports that I receive, showing the infection rates over the previous seven days, are indicating a sharp and continuous rise in infection rates across all areas of Buckinghamshire. Rates are also rising amongst the over 60-year olds and the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 is also rising. I have been meeting with our NHS colleagues who also report that they are now experiencing severe pressure.

"I again must be clear that ‘infection rates’ do not necessarily mean serious illness, nor hospital admissions. Nevertheless, taken collectively the situation is worrying.

"As I have said publicly, whilst very many people are following the rules, a significant minority are not. I have to stress that despite the vaccine now being available in Buckinghamshire, we still only have limited supplies and it will take many months before even the most vulnerable are vaccinated. We have a collective responsibility to each other to help control this horrible virus.

"Today the Government is reviewing the tiers for all parts of England. I will not hide that we are at significant risk of moving into Tier 3, with all the impact that will have on our lives and our local and national economy."