Revellers out to enjoy a drink at city’s last chance saloon
PUNTERS descended on Derby city centre just hours before the Tier 2 restrictions come into force.
Yesterday we reported that tighter measures were due to begin just past midnight overnight as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise.
Areas including Derby city, Amber Valley, Bolsover, Derbyshire Dales, South Derbyshire and the whole of High Peak, have been placed in the “High Alert” category, affecting about a million people.
Dozens made their way to the city centre. Hollie Allsop, 18, of Alvaston, was out with her friend for the last night out they can have together for some time.
She said: “These rules are ridiculous! They should either lock it all down or not at all. I don’t understand all these tiers and I don’t think the Government have been clear enough what they all mean.
“People will carry on going to the pubs. It’s mad. I’m in a family of nine and we can’t have dinner together, but I can go to college.
Poppy Ward, 18, said the whole thing is a joke. She said: “We don’t know what any of the rules mean and I think loads of people will keep going to the pubs.
“I think there should be a full lockdown because this Tier 2 will not stop the infection rate.
“If we had a full lockdown, people would know where they stood. At the moment, people just don’t what it all means.”
As the number of cases continues to increase across the country the Government has introduced the three-tier system – with a possible tighter fourth being considered – in a bid to stop the virus spreading.
Derbyshire was originally in Tier 1, but has now been bumped up to 2.
Neighbouring Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are about to enter Tier 3 which has even tighter restrictions.
Jay Smith, 19, apprentice electrician, from Chaddesden, said: “I think Boris has got it wrong. The tiers is not the right way to go about it. We need herd immunity.
“Look after the vulnerable people for sure, but he is forcing restrictions on people that don’t need them.
“I am around a lot of people’s houses with my job and so many people say the same.”