Hartlepool hospitality boss pins hope on Covid vaccine as venues likely to stay closed after lockdown ends

Setting out his winter Covid strategy on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there will be a return to regional tiers which will be strengthened to control the spread of the virus.

If Hartlepool was to come under the toughest Tier 3 rules it would mean all forms of hospitality, indoor entertainment, hotels and other accommodation will have to remain closed except for delivery and takeaway.

The town was on the brink of going into Tier 3 just before the latest month-long lockdown and last week it was reported that Hartlepool had the second highest infection rate in the country.

Darab Rezai, chairman of Hartlepool Licensees Association representing bars and restaurants said the measure may be the only option until a vaccine is rolled out.

Mr Rezai, who owns Harbour View on Hartlepool Marina, said: “I think it’s terrible but we have got to think what’s the solution?

"If it helps for some of the industry to be closed to reduce the R number and the number of people infected maybe that’s the answer.”

He called for government support to be extended adding: “It seems that sadly we have lost quite a few of these businesses.

"We want to make sure we don’t end up with a lot of empty units.”

And Mr Rezai said the sooner a vaccine comes the better for the hospitality industry.

"I hope that come the spring everyone would be more relaxed and we can look positively to the future and start building our industry and life again.

"But we’ve got to put everybody’s life first, support each other and hopefully come out of it better and stronger.”

Hartlepool is due to find out which tier it will come under on Thursday.

Mr Johnson said: “I’m sorry to say we expect that more regions will fall at least temporarily into higher levels than before".

But mass testing is to be offered in all Tier 3 areas.

Mr Johnson added that he was “very sorry” for the “hardship” that such restrictions will cause business owners.

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