Rugby placed under Tier 1 'medium risk' coronavirus restrictions - but council leaders urge residents to take extra steps

Rugbeians are being asked to take extra steps to avoid a lockdown
File image. Rugby Town Hall.File image. Rugby Town Hall.
File image. Rugby Town Hall.

Rugby has been placed under Tier 1 'medium risk' in the new system unveiled by the Prime Minister yesterday, October 12.

This category is the lowest level of risk and much of England is included.

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But as Rugby's case numbers climb, council leaders and health bosses are urging residents to take some extra steps to avoid the borough being placed on a higher tier.

At a base level, Tier 1 means that the normal coronavirus rules in England apply, this means that shops and schools stay open, while pubs, bars and restaurants must close by 10pm.

Rugby Borough Council is asking residents to obey some extra guidelines so that the case rate does not rise to 100 per 100,000 - meaning a chance of the area being pushed up to a higher tier.

Rugbeians are asked not to visit friends and family in their homes, unless they are part of a support bubble.

Additionally, residents are asked not to visit care homes.

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Last week Cllr Seb Lowe, leader of Rugby council and leader of the Conservative Group, Maggie O’Rourke, leader of the Labour Group, and Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, issued a joint statement urging Rugbeians to avoid a local lockdown by following the additional guidelines.

They said: “The rate of infection in Rugby has been consistently higher than neighbouring areas since the start of September, but after seeing the infection rate reduce this trend has reversed once again.

“This is a worrying increase.

"The measures the council put in place to make town centre businesses safe places to visit have worked, but we are now starting to see a big increase in cases that have been passed on between households.

"We urge residents to take action now and not mix indoors with anyone they do not live with, except for close friends or family who are part of their support bubble."

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At the same time Shade Agboola, director of Public Health for Warwickshire, said: “All of the data shows that the biggest cause of transmission of Covid-19 in Rugby is social visits to friends and family.

"Sadly, without knowing it residents are putting their loved ones at risk."

A spokesperson for Rugby council explained the latest case data for Rugby shows that there have been recent cases in all wards, with the highest numbers in Coton and Boughton, Paddox, Wolston and Dunsmore.

All age groups have been affected, with the largest rise in the last few weeks in the 50-59 age group. Cases are mostly white British, with a small number of cases from other ethnic groups.

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