LONDON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Britain put the area of
Lancashire in northwest England into the highest COVID alert
level on Friday, meaning it will face the toughest restrictions
to curb the spread of the virus, including the closure of pubs.
Cases have grown rapidly in the region that is home to towns
such as Burnley, Blackburn, Blackpool and Preston, forcing
Lancashire into the very high alert level of Tier 3, along with
nearby Liverpool and Merseyside.
Under the terms agreed between the national government in
Westminster and local officials, pubs will close unless they are
selling substantial food and people have been told not to
socialise with anybody indoors that they do not live with.
The change will come into force on Saturday and from Monday
betting shops, casinos, bingo halls and soft play areas for
children must also close.
As a second wave of the pandemic mounts, Prime Minister
Boris Johnson's government has pursued a tiered approach to shut
down local regions with surging cases in the hope it can allow
the least affected areas to remain open to protect the economy.
That has sparked anger by some local leaders in northern
England who say the government has not offered enough financial
support to businesses which are having to close.
(Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by Michael Holden)