Portsmouth could be moved into tier three with council leader saying it is '50-50'
PORTSMOUTH could be moved into tier three – with the leader of the council saying it is currently ‘50-50’ whether the city is moved into the most restrictive coronavirus bracket.
The city, along with the rest of Hampshire, has been in tier two since the second lockdown ended on December 2.
But a review into England's three-tiered system was expected to take place today with suggestions that Portsmouth could be moved into tier three.
However, at Boris Johnson’s press conference at Downing Street earlier, the prime minister said results would not now be released on Wednesday.
Instead the results are now expected to be revealed on Thursday.
Rumours the city was definitely being moved into tier three were premature according to councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of Portsmouth City Council.
But he told The News it was in the balance, saying it was currently ‘50-50’ whether the city is moved into tier three.
He added: ‘We don’t know yet.’
Councillor Donna Jones wrote a Facebook post on Wednesday claiming Portsmouth was ‘likely’ to be moved into tier three on Thursday.
She wrote: ‘Some updates for my friends......Portsmouth is likely to go into Tier 3 tomorrow. But the five-day Christmas rules enabling people to see family (up to three households) still remains.’
Portsmouth had a coronavirus infection rate of 202.4 cases per 100,000 people – in the seven days to December 11. This was up from a rate of 141.9 the week previously.
There were 435 cases confirmed in Portsmouth in the seven days to December 11.
In the seven days to December 12, Portsmouth had 457 new cases recorded – the equivalent of 212.7 cases per 100,000 people.
This was up from 140.5 in the seven days to December 5.