Matt Hancock orders inquiry after leaks over Greater Manchester's lockdown tier

Pennine Acute, which runs Fairfield General Hospital, Bury, The Royal Oldham Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary, recorded 21 more deaths.

Do you think schools should stay open as we go into second lockdown? Have your say in our comments section. Click here. Senior figures in some other councils spoken to by the M.E.N.

Coronavirus cases in Greater Manchester have risen by 4pc week-on-week, according to latest figures, as the region prepares to enter 'Tier 3' of the lockdown system.Tougher new measures, such as the closure of pubs and other venues, will be introduced in the region from Friday at 00.01am.People will also be banned from meeting other households indoors and in most outdoor settings.More than 2,000 cases of the virus (2,162) were confirmed in Greater Manchester today - only the third time that

Should Greater Manchester be in Tier 3? Have your say in the comments belowOne of the main changes in Tier 3 is that pubs and bars which do not serve food will close.They can only stay open if they operate as if they were a restaurant - which means serving 'substantial meals', such as a main lunchtime or evening meal.

Should Greater Manchester be in Tier 3? Have your say in the comments below The pot available in Greater Manchester totals £3.7m a month, according to Altus, unless local authorities are able to top it up through any hardship funding that may be subsequently made available.The Government will also support businesses by paying two thirds of each employees’ salary (or 67%), up to a maximum of £2,100 a month.Suppliers such as breweries will not be entitled to anywhere near the same level of

coronavirus cases.

So how long will Tier 3 restrictions last for? The new three-tier system announced by the Prime Minister last Monday sees the country split into either Tier 1, coronavirus alert level 'Medium', Tier 2 - 'High', and Tier 3 - 'Very High'.Boris Johnson said that restrictions in medium and high alert areas will be kept under 'constant review,' and could change at any time."We will also keep these measures under constant review, including a four-week sunset clause for interventions in very high

How do you feel about being moved into Tier 3 lockdown? Let us know in our survey below...Currently, the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care is around 40 per cent of that seen at the peak of the first wave.

hereThe prison, which is run by Sodexo Prison Services, has capacity for 1,460 inmates.Matt Spencer, director at the prison, said: "A small number of staff and prisoners at HMP Forest Bank hace tested positive for Covid-19."We are currently working with Public Health England and the local authority to reduce transmission of the infection, including ensuring appropriate self-isolation and testing takes place."A number of measures have been put in place to prevent any spread of the virus,

Prestwich just three weeks ago. What do you think? Have your say in the comments section here But in just a few hours time Mike and his staff will learn what their immediate future holds as the Government prepares to impose stringent new coronavirus controls on 2.8 million people in Greater Manchester after talks with local leaders failed to reach agreement.

The Guardian reports.

message was clear to Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and his colleagues.If an agreement cannot be reached, Mr Johnson said he would intervene to 'to protect Manchester's hospitals and save the lives of Manchester's residents'."I urge the mayor to reconsider and engage constructively," he said."I cannot stress enough, time is of the essence.Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletterYou can sign up very simply by following the

coronavirus in the north west, the health secretary has said. Matt Hancock made the claim in response to comments from Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who accused the government of treating the region as a 'canary in the coal mine'.

last-minute meeting held between MPs in the region and a junior health minister this morning has been described as an "utter waste of time" as local leaders and MPs remain in the dark about whether restrictions are set to be changed.Labour’s Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, said there was “unanimous fury” about the process, evidence base and economic support packages on the table during talks between Greater Manchester MPs and the government this morning.Addressing, Mr Hancock in the

Matt Hancock will make a statement in the House of Commons today (Thursday).The Health Secretary's speech to MPs will follow last-minute talks between Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and No 10 this morning.Manchester MPs have said they have also been invited to a meeting on Thursday morning.Mr Burnham has been resisting pressure to follow the Liverpool City Region into the Tier 3 restrictions – which would see bars, gyms and betting shops forced to close – despite soaring infection

according to the BBC and several other news outlets. Health Secretary Matt Hancock is due to address update the House of Commons at around 11.30am on Thursday morning.One MP has already hit out saying it would be a "devastating move." Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and local officials met with the deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam earlier to discuss the evidence surrounding a move in tiers.

Andy Burnham says he is due to hold a meeting with the country's deputy chief medical officer today with regards to the new local lockdown system.