Southport and Formby are among areas which are being placed under a coronavirus lockdown starting next week.
New rules include a 10pm closing time for pubs, restaurants and leisure attractions; asking people to avoid public transport if they can; and telling people not to socialise with others outside of their household.
The Merseyside boroughs join Lancashire, and large parts of other areas which will see new lockdown measures introduced.
Curbs including curfew on pubs and restaurants and a ban on socialising outside of households are being introduced across parts of the North West, Midlands and West Yorkshire from Tuesday as the government ramps up its action.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock today admitted that another national lockdown is possible as cases rise across the country.
Yesterday’s figures revealed that Covid-19 cases in Sefton have risen to 53.2 per 100,00 (147 new cases), up from 42.3 per 100,000 (117 new cases) last week.
Cases are even worse in the rest of the Merseyside region with figures elsewhere:
Knowsley 114.7 (173), 61.6 (93)
Liverpool 107.8 (537), 67.5 (336)
St. Helens 102.4 (185), 65.3 (118)
Wirral 94.1 (305), 72.8 (236)
In Merseyside, Warrington, Halton and Lancashire (excluding Blackpool), regulations will enforce the following restrictions from Tuesday 22 September :
- Residents must not socialise with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens;
- Hospitality for food and drink will be restricted to table service only; and
- Late night operating hours will be restricted, with leisure and entertainment venues including restaurants, pubs, and cinemas, required to close between 10pm to 5am.
Residents are also advised to adhere to the following guidance to further reduce rates of infection:
- Only to use public transport for essential purposes, such as travelling to school or work
- Avoid attending amateur and semi-professional sporting events as spectators.
Matt Hancock said: “We are seeing cases of coronavirus rise fast in Lancashire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Warrington, Halton and Wolverhampton.
“Local leaders in these areas have asked for stronger restrictions to be put in place to protect local people, and we are acting decisively to support them.
“I know these restrictions will make every-day life harder for many, but I know that residents will work together and respect the rules so we can reduce rates of transmission.
“I urge local people to isolate and get a test if you have symptoms, follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace, and always remember ‘hands, face, space’. By sticking to these steps, we will get through this together.”
These decisions have been made in close collaboration with local leaders, with many requesting restrictions to help prevent further increase.
People are being urged to ‘come together to tackle this virus’ as Ministers consider imposing tough new rules for a fortnight in a bid to stop the spread.
The Prime Minister yesterday pleaded for Brits to ‘save Christmas’ by obeying his ‘Rule of Six’, warning that lockdown will only get stricter if the UK does not ‘flatten the hump of the camel’.
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