00:00In 19 council areas, the majority, will see no change to their levels this week.
00:04I am pleased to say that from the start of next week, assuming of course no significant deterioration in the
00:10situation before then,
00:11two areas will move down from level 3 to level 2.
00:16However, 11 local authorities will from 6pm on Friday, for a strictly limited period, move from level 3 to level
00:234.
00:24The infection rate in all of these areas remains stubbornly and worryingly high.
00:30At these levels, we simply do not have the assurance we need that hospital and ICU services will be able
00:35to cope as we go deeper into the winter.
00:37Pressure on hospitals in these areas, and on those who work in them, is already severe.
00:42And with the additional pressure that the coming weeks may bring, it could easily become intolerable.
00:47And further, at these levels, we would not have the flexibility we need to ease restrictions over Christmas,
00:53which, in common with the other UK nations, we so desperately want to do.
00:58But level 4 is intended to be short and sharp.
01:02And in this situation, it is specifically intended to have an impact in advance of Christmas and the most challenging
01:08winter period.
01:09Thank you.
01:09Grazie.
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