New coronavirus cases for Preston and South Ribble as tension over tiers continues

Walking along in Miller Park Pic: Tony Worrall

The latest figures for new coronavirus cases in Lancashire have been confirmed.

Public Health England data shows there were 33 new cases in Preston for Sunday (29 November).

South Ribble saw 21 new cases for the same date.

Wyre has 18 new cases, Ribble Valley 17 and Fylde 15.

See the latest coronavirus cases and information near you

Preston and Lancashire are preparing to re-enter tier-3 restrictions from Wednesday (2 December).

Infection rates continued to fall throughout last week in nearly every area of Lancashire, with Preston and South Ribble beginning to drop towards going below the average in England.

Pressure grows on Prime Minister over tiers

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing growing disquiet over the tier restrictions system.

He’s written to MPs to say the current tier system is only due to last until February 3 2021.

The government has pledged to review which tier every area is in every fortnight.

The first review point is on December 16.

Calls had been made by Lancashire County Council to split the county into two, with Preston and East Lancashire put into tier-3 and other areas, such as South Ribble in tier-2.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab appeared on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday to discuss the new levels.

He said: “We are starting with a more restrictive approach than previously with the localised approach, but that allows us to ease up when we are confident the virus is going down and stabilised – there’s a review every two weeks.”

He repeated that mass community testing, as referenced by Health secretary Matt Hancock, was a way for places like Lancashire to move into tier-2.