NORTHWICH residents are being urged to follow the new lockdown restrictions and stay at home to help turn the tide on coronavirus.

A third national lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday, and MPs are due to vote on the measures becoming law in Parliament today, January 6.

It comes as the new variant of coronavirus is reported to be between 50 per cent and 70 per cent more transmissible than the previous strain.

Across Cheshire West, infection rates have soared over the past week, from 272 to 479.2 per 100,000 people in the latest figures – while hospitals are also under strain, with 40 per cent of general and acute beds at the Countess of Chester now occupied by coronavirus patients.

Cllr Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: "We have seen a worrying acceleration of the rates of infection and this is now translating into more people getting ill and being admitted to hospital. We face a more infectious variant of the virus.

"The most effective way to combat this strain is to stay at home as much as possible. If we don’t follow these rules, we will see a further escalation with tragic consequences.

“The rate of infection has increased rapidly in recent days and like many other areas of the country, our hospitals are coming under ever more pressure."

The new lockdown means people should stay at home unless they have a valid exception – such as essential food shopping, outdoor exercise, medical assistance or work if this cannot be done at home.

People with certain medical conditions, who are clinically extremely vulnerable, will be asked to shield again – with a letter being sent setting out how to respond.

Colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of key workers, with home learning expected to last until at least February half term.

Cllr Gittins added: “These restrictions, while incredibly tough for all of us, are necessary to save lives.

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“While the vaccine rollout gives us all hope, it would be incredibly sad if we didn’t all act now and follow the latest rules.

"Otherwise, we may lose the chance to save the lives of many people who could be vaccinated in just a few months.

"The power to turn this around is in our hands. The message is now as it was last March. Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives."