Coronavirus map LIVE: Millions face in north of England face curfew- announcement IMMINENT - Express

A major announcement from Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected this morning. The new restrictions will include a curfew of 10pm for pubs and restaurants. People will also be unable to socialise with anyone outside their household.

The areas affected include Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, County Durham, Sunderland, North Tyneside and South Tyneside.

The latest figures show Newcastle recorded 194 new cases last week.

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes explained the new rules are to prevent another full lockdown.

He said: “Unless we get on with this now, we are facing a bigger problem down the line which could end up in a full lockdown.

“It is better to try to introduce measures which will prevent that, even though that may mean some additional restrictions over the next few weeks.

“We are working with the government on a plan for what those could mean and how we can get those measures in place over the next few weeks to protect our communities and having to go into another prolonged, damaging lockdown.”

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8.29am update: Care providers in England to receive more than half a billion pounds extra funding to help reduce transmission of Covid-19 during the winter

The Infection Control Fund will help pay staff full wages when they are self-isolating and ensure carers work in only one care home, reducing the risk of spreading the infection.

The fund was set up in May but has now been extended until March 2021 and will offer the sector an extra £546 million ahead of an anticipated second wave of the virus over the winter months.

The Government said that total funding for infection control measures in care homes is now more than £1.1 billion and underlines its commitment to ensure adult social care has the resources it needs to keep residents and staff safe.

It comes as stricter rules are expected to be put in place in the North East of England, following a rise in the number of coronavirus infections.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the new funding would bring "peace of mind" to many in the sector.

"From the very beginning we have done everything possible to make sure our social care system is protected and has the resources it needs to keep our brilliant workforce and those they care for safe," he said.

"This new funding of over half a billion pounds will support not only care home residents, but also some of the most vulnerable in society living at home and in supported living.

"I know this will give peace of mind to so many, and we will set out further detail in our Adult Social Care Winter Plan this week."

7.41am update: Boris Johnson explains new coronavirus restrictions are to flatten the second hump

The Prime Minister admitted the new rules, including no more than six people gathering and 10pm curfews in various areas are “excessive”.

But Mr Johnson added he will ease the rules if the second hump on the cases graph, like on a camel, is “stopped in its tracks”. 

He told The Sun: “All this is to say that: Christmas we want to protect, and we want everyone to have a fantastic Christmas.

“But the only way to make sure the country is able to enjoy Christmas is to be tough now. So if we can grip it now, stop the surge, arrest the spike, stop the second hump of the dromedary, flatten the second hump.

“Dromedary or camel? I can’t remember if it is a dromedary or a camel that has two humps? Umm. Please check.

“Anyway a double hump. So that is what we need to do!”

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2020-09-17 06:51:00Z
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Coronavirus: Restrictions expected in north-east England - BBC News

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• Coronavirus pandemic

image copyrightGetty Images

Almost two million people in north-east England are expected to face local restrictions as coronavirus cases rise.

Northumberland, Newcastle, Sunderland, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead and County Durham council areas are in discussions to get the measures.

These may include pubs closing earlier and restrictions on households mixing.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Sun: "The only way to make sure the country is able to enjoy Christmas is to be tough now."

He previously said the government was doing "everything in our power" to avoid another nationwide lockdown.

The PM also told the newspaper the government is promising £546m as part of a plan to help protect care homes from coronavirus this winter.

A full announcement detailing the new measures for the North East is expected later on Thursday.

"The number of cases has been rising rapidly in many parts of the country, but in particular in the North East, and so a decision has been made to impose further restrictions there," Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told ITV's Peston programme on Wednesday.

"And a full announcement will be made tomorrow and so people living in that part of the country should watch out for that. And the measures will come into play at midnight on Thursday evening."

MPs from the area met with Health Minister Nadine Dorries on Wednesday evening.

BBC Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt said a Labour MP told him measures would include pubs closing at 22:00 BST, no mixing with other households and public transport only for essential travel.

'Not a full lockdown'

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes said it was hoped the temporary measures would prevent a "full lockdown".

In a series of tweets, he denied the new restrictions meant the area was headed for "lockdown" - and it was "about re-introducing social distancing where the evidence says it is slipping".

image copyrightGetty Images

The North East has seen a resurgence of coronavirus in recent weeks and four boroughs were last week placed on the government's watchlist for areas needing "enhanced support".

On Monday, councils in the seven areas of Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, County Durham and Sunderland called for new restrictions.

BBC analysis of the government's figures shows that, as of Wednesday, Bolton had the highest rate in England at 204.1 per 100,000 people in the week to 13 September.

Sunderland's rate was 82.1 per 100,000 people, South Tyneside was 93.4, Gateshead was 81.7, Newcastle was 64.1, North Tyneside was 46.7, with County Durham at 37.4 and Northumberland at 25.7.

In total there were 1,106 new cases in a seven-day period.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We constantly monitor infection rates across the country and keep all measures under review in consultation with local leaders.

"Any changes to local restrictions will be announced in the usual way."

Other parts of the UK, including Birmingham and Greater Manchester, are already subject to increased measures.

In an interview with the Sun on Thursday, Mr Johnson compared the graph showing UK virus cases to the humps on a camel's back, saying the aim is to "stop the surge" in cases and "flatten the second hump".

He said he did not want to lock down sections of the economy, but that the government "will be looking at" requiring pubs to close early.

On Wednesday, the prime minister told a committee of MPs a second national lockdown would be potentially "disastrous" for the UK.

He admitted there was not enough testing capacity - amid widespread reports of difficulties obtaining them - and said new nationwide restrictions such as the "rule of six" were necessary to "defeat" the disease.

Coronavirus cases across the UK increased by 3,991, taking the total to 378,219, according to figures from the government.

Analysis - Daniel Wainwright, BBC England Data Unit

While parts of the north west of England have consistently had the highest rates of new infections for some time now, areas of the North East have also been reporting big increases.

In the week to 30 August Sunderland had 24 cases. Two weeks later it was 228.

The rise in South Tyneside was also very large, up from 70 cases in the last week of August to 141 in the week to 13 September.

Parts of the region are recording rates they haven't seen since May, when the country was still subject to most of the full lockdown measures.

Testing capacity has increased since then but there have been shortages due to the recent surge in demand.

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2020-09-17 06:46:00Z
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Brexit bombshell: Nancy Pelosi gives Raab FIERY warning on UK trade deal – ‘No chance’ - Daily Express

The House of Representatives speaker delivered the stern warning during a meeting with Mr Raab in Washington D.C. Boris Johnson has introduced new legislation to partially overrule the withdrawal agreement signed with Brussels last year.

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He argues in its current form it infringes on British sovereignty and could prevent food exports to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

On Monday the Internal Market Bill, which the Government introduced to partially overwrite the Brexit withdrawal agreement, passed its first two readings in the House of Commons.

However, a number of senior US political figures have claimed violating the withdrawal agreement would prevent Britain signing a new trade deal with America.

They argue the deal is necessary to safeguard peace in Northern Ireland.

Dominic Raab held talks with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Image: GETTY)

Dominic Raab is in Washington DC to meet US political leaders (Image: GETTY)

Mr Raab met with Ms Pelosi and Richard Neal, chair of the powerful congressional ways and means committee, on Tuesday.

Following the meeting Ms Pelosi released a statement warning Britain not to violate “its international agreements”.

She said: “In our meeting today with the Foreign Secretary, Chairman Richie Neal and I welcomed his assurances but reiterated the same message that we delivered to the leaders of the UK in London last year.

“If the UK violates its international agreements and Brexit undermines the Good Friday accord, there will be absolutely no chance of a US-UK trade agreement passing the Congress.

READ MORE: No deal Brexit: UK-EU trade talks set to collapse amid Bill row 

Dominic Raab with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Image: GETTY)

“The Good Friday Agreement is valued by the American people and will continue to be proudly defended in the United States Congress.”

The Democrats have a majority in the House of Representatives meaning they could potentially block any UK-US trade deal.

Under the terms of the Brexit withdrawal agreement Northern Ireland will remain closely tied to the European single market, when the EU exit transition period comes to a close at the end of this year.

This is in order to prevent a hard border being required between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic which could undermine the peace agreement.

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Nancy Pelosi warned the Government not to undermine peace in Northern Ireland (Image: GETTY)

An anti-Brexit protester outside Parliament on Wednesday (Image: GETTY)

However, this means Britain would have to implement some checks on good travelling between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The Government argues this is an unacceptable attack on British sovereignty and must be amended.

Before meeting Mr Raab Ms Pelosi explained her position in a statement.

She commented: “The Good Friday Agreement is the bedrock of peace in Northern Ireland and a beacon of hope for peace-loving people throughout the whole world.

“Whatever form it takes, Brexit cannot be allowed to imperil the Good Friday Agreement – the stability brought by the seamless border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.”

Following pressure from some Tory backbenchers the Government has agreed the Internal Markets Bill will be amended so Parliament’s consent is required for its most controversial aspects to become law.

Last week the Northern Ireland secretary admitted the new legislation does "break international law" in a “specific and limited way”.

The Government argues parts of the withdrawal deal undermine British sovereignty (Image: GETTY)

US Democratic Party presidential nominee Joe Biden has also warned any new UK-US trade deal would be “contingent” on the Good Friday Agreement being respected.

Mr Biden will seek to take the presidency from Donald Trump when the election is held on November 3.

However, Mike Pompeo, the Trump administration’s secretary of state, said concerning Northern Ireland he trusts Britain to “get this right”.

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2020-09-17 00:55:23Z
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President hopeful Joe Biden wades into Brexit row with trade deal warning to Boris Johnson - Daily Express

The surprise intervention by Mr Biden will pile pressure on Mr Johnson following his decision to press ahead with the Internal Market Bill, which re-opens parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement and threatens to break international law.

The Prime Minister insists the legislation acts as a "safety net" to the peace process and ensures Brussels could not impose tariffs on goods moving to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK in the event of no deal.

Prior to the comments by Mr Biden, four US congressmen, led by chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Eliot Engel, wrote to the Prime Minister and said Washington will not support any free trade pact with the UK if Britain fails to uphold its commitments to Northern Ireland as part of Brexit.

In the letter also signed by Democrats Richard Neal and William Keating and Republican Peter King, they said: "Many in the US and in Congress consider the issues of the Good Friday Agreement and a potential US-UK Free Trade Agreement inextricably linked.”

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2020-09-16 23:20:18Z
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Coronavirus: Restrictions expected in North East of England - BBC News

Related Topics

• Coronavirus pandemic

image copyrightPA Media

Almost two million people in north-east England are expected to face local restrictions as coronavirus cases rise.

Areas including Newcastle, Sunderland and County Durham are due to be put under the new measures.

These are expected to include restrictions on households mixing and pubs being ordered to close earlier.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Sun: "The only way to make sure the country is able to enjoy Christmas is to be tough now."

Mr Johnson previously said the government was doing "everything in our power" to avoid another nationwide lockdown.

A full announcement detailing the new measures for the North East is expected later on Thursday.

MPs from the area met with Health Minister Nadine Dorries on Wednesday evening.

The MPs were told the lockdown measures would apply in Newcastle, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Northumberland and County Durham, said BBC Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt.

He said a Labour MP told him measures would include pubs closing at 22:00 BST, no mixing with other households and public transport only for essential travel.

'Not a full lockdown'

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes said it was hoped the temporary measures would prevent a "full lockdown".

In a series of tweets, Mr Forbes denied that the new restrictions meant the area was headed for "lockdown" - and it was "about re-introducing social distancing where the evidence says it is slipping".

image copyrightGetty Images

The North East has seen a resurgence of coronavirus in recent weeks and four boroughs were last week placed on the government's watchlist for areas needing "enhanced support".

On Monday, councils in seven areas - Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, County Durham and Sunderland - called for new restrictions.

BBC analysis of the government's figures shows that as of Wednesday, Bolton had the highest rate in England at 204.1 per 100,000 people in the week to 13 September.

Sunderland's rate was 82.1 per 100,000 people, South Tyneside was 93.4, Gateshead was 81.7, Newcastle was 64.1, North Tyneside was 46.7, with County Durham at 37.4 and Northumberland at 25.7.

In total there were 1,106 new cases in a seven-day period.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We constantly monitor infection rates across the country and keep all measures under review in consultation with local leaders.

"Any changes to local restrictions will be announced in the usual way."

Other parts of the UK, including Birmingham and Greater Manchester, are already subject to increased measures.

In an interview with the Sun newspaper on Thursday, Mr Johnson compared the graph showing UK virus cases to the humps on a camel's back, saying the aim is to "stop the surge" in cases and "flatten the second hump".

He said he did not want to lock down sections of the economy, but that the government "will be looking at" requiring pubs to close early.

On Wednesday, Boris Johnson told a committee of MPs a second national lockdown would be potentially "disastrous" for the UK.

He admitted there was not enough testing capacity - amid widespread reports of difficulties obtaining them - and said new nationwide restrictions such as the "rule of six" were necessary to "defeat" the disease.

Coronavirus cases across the UK increased by 3,991, taking the total to 378,219, according to figures from the government.

Analysis - Daniel Wainwright, BBC England Data Unit

While parts of the north west of England have consistently had the highest rates of new infections for some time now, areas of the North East have also been reporting big increases.

In the week to 30 August Sunderland had 24 cases. Two weeks later it was 228.

The rise in South Tyneside was also very large, up from 70 cases in the last week of August to 141 in the week to 13 September.

Parts of the region are recording rates they haven't seen since May, when the country was still subject to most of the full lockdown measures.

Testing capacity has increased since then but there have been shortages due to the recent surge in demand.

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.

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2020-09-16 23:03:00Z
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Thursday's national newspaper front pages - Sky News

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Thursday's national newspaper front pages  Sky News
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2020-09-16 21:33:35Z
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Boris Johnson bows to Conservative rebels with Brexit bill compromise - BBC News - BBC News

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1. Boris Johnson bows to Conservative rebels with Brexit bill compromise - BBC News  BBC News
2. Brexit: PM in compromise with Tory critics over Internal Market Bill  BBC News
3. Boris Johnson rolls eyes as Brexiter Bill Cash lists precedents of international law-breaking  The Telegraph
4. The Guardian view on Boris Johnson, Brexit and the law: wilful incompetence  The Guardian
5. PM compromises on controversial Brexit Bill  Sky News
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2020-09-16 21:32:45Z
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