Covid in West Yorkshire: Latest figures as Wakefield, Pontefract and Castleford to remain in Tier 3 Covid restrictions as large areas of England enter Tier 4

Speaking in the Commons this afternoon, Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that Wakefield, Pontefract and Castleford would remain in Tier 3 measures.

North Yorkshire, including Harrogate and York, will also rise to Tier 3 from tomorrow (Thursday, December 31), as a result of rising rates of Covid-19.

It comes amid rising rates of Covid-19 across the country, linked to two new strains of the virus.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Hancock said: "Even in areas not moving into Tier 4, cases are rising too, and it's therefore necessary to apply Tier 3 measures more broadly too, including in Liverpool and North Yorkshire.

"The rest of Yorkshire remains in Tier 3.

"I know that Tier 3 and 4 measures place a significant burden on people, and especially on businesses affected.

"But I'm afraid it's absolutely necessary because of the number of cases that we've seen."

A total of 15,982 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the Wakefield district to date, including an additional 216 confirmed over the bank holiday weekend.

The rate of cases currently stands at 186 per 100,000, up from 120 per 100,000 last week.

And at least 818 people have died after testing positive for Covid-19, including 689 at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals and 129 in the district's care homes.

New variant

The new variant of Covd-19 has now been reported across "most areas", Mr Hancock said.

Last week, Wakefield Council issued a warning to residents after a second new strain of the virus, first noted in South Africa, was found in the UK.

As a result, large areas of the country will be moved into Tier 4 measures, which introduce additional restrictions on travel, retail and leisure and meeting people outside your household.

Large parts of the Midlands, North East and North West and the South West will now go into Tier 4.