Local councillor Nick Rushton - leader of Leicestershire County Council - has responded to the area being placed into Tier 4 Coronavirus restrictions.

Following on from the announcement by Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Leicestershire's move into Tier 4, the county council has released a joint statement from Cllr Rushton and Mike Sandys, director of public health.

Cllr Rushton said: "I'd agree with the Government approach, we have to drive down infection rates as we head into the New Year and it's crucial that we take all the necessary steps to protect the public's health – particularly those who are elderly or clinically extremely vulnerable.

"Following those guidelines of 'hands, face and space' has never been more important.

"We need everyone to be as rigorous as possible in heeding the advice. We've got to follow this every minute of the day."

Mike Sandys, said: "We've got rapidly-rising infection rates across most of the county, so it's been evident for a few days now that there would be a raising of the tier level.

"Hospitals are also massively under pressure across the city and county and that's coupled with these rising rates.

"The fact that neighbouring Northamptonshire has gone through the tiers from 2 to 4 in rapid succession also illustrates how fast the rates are rising.

"What we're potentially seeing is the spread of a much more infectious type of COVID-19, which is spreading dangerously in the south east. We've got to get ahead of it here before it's too late."

The changes will come into effect from the start of Thursday, 31st December 2020.

Latest rates

The latest infection rates as of yesterday (Tuesday) show Leicestershire's rate for every 100,000 people is 241.4 per 100,000 population compared to a national figure of 402.6 per 100,000.

The figures show that North West Leicestershire's rate is among the lowest in the county.

Oadby and Wigston has the highest rate (375.3), followed by Harborough (259.3), Melton (234.3), Hinckley & Bosworth (233.3), Blaby (232.5), North West Leicestershire (220.1) and Charnwood (215.2).