Bristol has ramped up measures to combat Covid-19 in the city by entering Tier 1 Plus.
The ranking is not part of the national . Instead it is a locally imposed measure to curb rising cases in the city.
According to the city's director of Public Health, Christina Gray, the Tier 1 plus concept has been discussed by local authorities throughout the South West, but Bristol will become the first to try it.
Mayor Marvin Rees said that Tier 1 Plus involves three parts:
- Using data to provide messages on how to safely use public spaces
- Taking on parts of test and trace
- Ensuring compliance
New measures include eight full-time Covid marshalls as part of a compliance drive to ensure Covid-secure behaviours and environments.
The marshalls will target specific areas of the city - along the docks, Gloucester Road and the high streets - at the busiest times, such as the weekend and evenings.
Mr Rees said if the new targeted measures don't work then Bristol faced the "inevitable prospect" of Tiers 2 and 3.
As it stands, no further restrictions are in place in Bristol and it officially falls under the same restrictions as 'Tier 1: Medium' areas.
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Mr Rees said: “Over the last few weeks we have been in discussion with the Department for Health and Social Care, our local partners in the NHS and across the city, and conducting additional analytic work to fully understand Bristol’s current situation.
Our rates in Bristol are rising, and we are currently in Tier 1, which is the ‘medium’ local COVID alert level. Within this Tier, we are taking targeted actions including the introduction of eight Covid marshals, deeper analytic work to identify rising tides of cases and taking on further powers of our local test and trace service to prevent further spread of the virus and protect our communities. These actions are being called Tier 1 plus.
Any further actions will be based on what we’re seeing locally, and through discussion with our local partners across the city and central Government.
It is vital that we all work together to keep to behaviours to stop the spread of the virus; stick to the ‘Rule of Six’ with those not in your household or support bubble both in indoor and outdoor settings, maintain social distancing and wear a face covering when indoors in mandatory settings.”