THE LEADER of the Royal Borough warns “tighter restrictions” may need to be enforced as the infection rate increases.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a three-tier system in Parliament this afternoon where each tier will have different lockdown rules.

Areas in tier one (medium) will have the current national lockdown measures such as the rule of six and 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants.

Tier Two (high) will prevent mixing between households indoors and rule of six outdoors where tier three (very high) will include closing of bars, restaurants, etc.

Starting from September 28, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead had a weekly rate of 79.9 cases per 100,000 – which is three times higher than the rate for the week of September 14 – and is higher than the average rate across the South East.

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According to Berkshire Live, the Royal Borough has seen a dramatic increase of 104.3 cases per 100,000 from October 2 to 8 – the highest increase ever recorded in Berkshire.

Windsor and Maidenhead also has 901 confirmed cases – the third largest in the region.

A spokesperson from the council said they do not yet know where the Royal Borough will be placed in the tier system – but are expecting an update later.

Councillor Andrew Johnson (Conservative: Hurley and Walthams), leader of the council, says: “We are aware of the Prime Minister’s announcement today and we are waiting for further information to find out how it impacts our community.

“In the meantime, it is really important that residents in the borough take action as the number of COVID-19 cases are rising quickly.

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“Over the last two weeks the number of weekly rolling average cases has more than tripled and if behaviour does not change we will need tighter restrictions to get numbers back under control.

“What is clear is a significant number of people are behaving responsibly and observing the rules – thank you – but a large number are not. We are aware of people not isolating even when they have symptoms and parents who send their children to school even after a positive test.

“The problem is being driven by people who should know better, people who think the rules don’t apply to them, people who think the problem is everyone else and people who think their routine or needs are more important than everyone else’s safety and livelihoods.

“Local businesses have – in the main – been scrupulous in the measures they have taken. Yet, if people don’t change their behaviour and show they care about their friends and families, it will be those businesses that close.

“It is not the council’s job to stop people behaving in this way, it is time those who choose to bend the rules realise they are the problem.”