Cheshire West and Chester Council are still waiting to receive a response from the government regarding its appeal for tighter restrictions on household mixing.

During last night's Covid-19 Outbreak Board meeting, Council Chief Executive, Andrew Lewis, said that he and Ian Ashworth, Director of Public Health, had this week been involved in "a number of detailed conversations" with government officials and the Chief Medical Officer.

"We don't yet know the outcome of those discussions. We're waiting to see what advice and decisions ministers might make.

"But there is the prospect that, at some stage in the near future, Cheshire East and Cheshire West will be included amongst the authorities that are subject to quite significant restrictions on household gatherings."

Help for Businesses

Mr Lewis went on to acknowledge concerns that both the 10pm curfew and the possibility of tighter restrictions on social gatherings will place particular strain on Cheshire West's hospitality industry.

"Since our last meeting, we've reached agreement with Warrington and Cheshire East [Councils] to put forward a package of proposals to central government," he said.

"They would require £45million of additional funding from central government but they would establish a more effective approach to supporting the hospitality sector in the boroughs."

£23million of this would be dedicated to the businesses most impacted by any new regulations in Cheshire West, Cheshire East and Warrington. "We are pressing government ministers for an early response on this proposal," Mr Lewis concluded.

The Council is also launching a new grant system, whereby people on in-work benefits who are required to self isolate will be eligible to receive £500.

Test and Trace

Mr Lewis added that the Council is making efforts to support improvements to the borough's testing regime. It is also working hard to trace everyone who may have been in contact with an infected person.

"We're also pleased that the level of attendance at our local schools is amongst the highest in the country, and we want that to be sustained wherever possible."

"We are working really intensively with our care home sector to make sure that they have good infection control systems in place.

"Many of them are continuing to receive visitors on a Covid secure basis, which is good to see, but of course our primary responsibility is to keep the most vulnerable section of our community as safe as possible.

"We are continuing to stand ready for new advice to the shielded population. That is, the 14,000 people in our borough who have medical conditions which might make them particularly susceptible to many of the complications of Covid-19.

Where does Cheshire West now stand?

In the week between 27th September and 3rd October, the coronavirus rate in Cheshire West and Chester was 126 per 100,000 residents, while the overall rate for England was 107.9.

From 30th September-6th October, there were 417 recorded infections, compared to 305 in the previous week.

These figures mean that Cheshire West and Chester's Covid rate ranks 63 out of 315 lower tier authorities.

You can watch the full webcast of the Outbreak Board meeting here.