New powers in Birmingham to close pubs and restaurants as lockdown tightens

[dutchman]

It comes after a recent spike in Covid-19 cases in the city



New measures will be introduced in Birmingham tomorrow in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Birmingham City Council is set to introduce the new measures tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26.

They will mostly make previous recommendations enforceable by law and the steps have been taken in consultation with the UK government, the Mirror reports.

There has been a recent spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in the city, although numbers over the last few days appear to suggest cases are coming down.

The new powers will allow the Council and Police to investigate reports of business premises which are failing to comply with Covid-secure risk assessments - and issue fines.

They will allow local council chiefs to restrict access to, or close bars or restaurants if they are deemed to be creating a risk.

It will also give the council powers to prohibit certain types of event taking place on the basis of a maximum event size, including life events such as weddings or funerals.

The council has said that there is no intention to change the numbers of people that can attend those events.

It will also give officials the power to restrict access to, or close, public outdoor places if there is a public health need to.