THE North-East and North Yorkshire is bracing itself to hear which tier it will be placed in today, amid calls for the Government to impose tougher restrictions across the country.

A review into the Covid tier system is expected today, December 30, with speculation that Hartlepool could be the first in the region to be moved up into Tier 4 while North Yorkshire is anticipating Tier 3.

The latest data reveals Hartlepool has a seven-day rolling case rate of 411 per 100,000 people.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen urged residents to keep following rules to avoid additional time in higher tiers.

He said: "We have driven down the virus but in order to have Tier 3 restrictions lifted as quickly as possible, it’s critical local people follow the rules .... whatever happens at the next tier review I know people and communities will continue to pull together.

"I have always said that Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool should not stay in the higher level of restrictions for a moment longer than necessary and I have worked closely with Government to get the best deal for local people and local businesses. The longer we stay in Tier 3 the more damage is done to our economy, livelihoods and the mental health of local people.

"If we don’t follow these rules the virus will continue to spread, and we will have to spend even longer in the higher tiers.”

The biggest difference between Tier 2, 3 and 4 is the stay at home message.

People in Tier 4 are only allowed to leave their home for essential reasons, bearing similarities to the first lockdown.

Cases have risen in North Yorkshire, which has a rate of 178.5 per 100,000 people, where public health leaders have issued a warning to residents of Hambleton following a rise in cases over the last two weeks.

The district’s infection rate has doubled and now stands at 242 cases per 100,000 people – the highest in North Yorkshire.

Officials say the rise can in part be attributed to outbreaks at two Northallerton care homes, which were detected through routine testing.

The general increase in cases is being put down to transmission in homes.

Richard Webb, North Yorkshire County Council’s corporate director for health and adult services, said: “We know by the nature of these communities people will travel to work or socialise, and people will come from Teesside to see friends or relatives or go to the pubs.”

Currently, people in North Yorkshire can mix with different households outside, including in private gardens in groups of up to six, while Tier 3 can only do so in parks and public outdoor places.

Under Tier 2, hospitality venues like pubs and restaurants can stay open as long as they offer a substantial meal with alcohol and operate table service, while Tier 3 businesses must only operate takeaway or click and collect.

The Government uses five key indicators to determine what tier an area will be placed in. This includes case detection rates in all age groups, case detection rates in the over 60s and the case change rate - whether cases are rising or falling.

The positivity rate, which is the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken is also factored in, as well as the pressure on the NHS, including current and projected occupancy of hospitals.

As of Tuesday, December 29, a further 41 people have died in hospitals in the region after testing positive for Covid-19.

There have also been more than 1,600 new cases of the coronavirus confirmed in the North-East and North Yorkshire.

The region is not alone in anticipating higher tiers as the whole country battles with a third wave and the new strain of the virus.

With case rates rising in all regions of England, as well as the number of Covid patients in hospitals, a growing number of experts are calling for stricter and even nation-wide restrictions.

Dr Susan Hopkins, senior medical adviser for Public Health England, said the “unprecedented levels” of Covid-19 infection across the UK was of “extreme concern”.

“Whilst the number of cases reported today include some from over the festive period, these figures are largely a reflection of a real increase,” she said.

“It is essential, now more than ever, that we continue to work together to stop the spread of the virus, bring the rate of infection down and protect the most vulnerable and the NHS.

“A critical part of this is each and every one of us abiding by the restrictions in place however hard it may seem at this time of the year.

“It is critical that we reduce our contacts, especially mixing between households. We must observe the basic measures — wash your hands, wear a mask and keep your distance from others.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock will announce any changes to tier areas in a statement to the Commons on this afternoon.