STRICTER coronavirus lockdown measures are to be implemented in Warrington, Halton and Merseyside.

New, tougher restrictions will come into force following a continued rise in the number of Covid-19 cases.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the new measures this morning (October 1).

It means regulations will be brought in to prevent in law social mixing between people in different households in all settings, except outdoor public spaces such as parks and outdoor hospitality.

The Government recommends that people should not attend professional or amateur sporting events as spectators in the areas affected, and people should only visit care homes in exceptional circumstances.

There will be guidance against all but essential travel, which includes going to work or school.

In a statement, Mr Hancock told the Commons: "Earlier this week we brought in further measures in the North-East, however in parts of Teesside and the North-West of England cases continue to rise fast.

"In Liverpool, the number of cases is 268 per 100,000 population, so together we need to act. Working with council leaders and the mayors, I’m today extending these measures that have been in the North East since the start of this week to the Liverpool City Region, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.

"We will provide £7 million to local authorities in these areas to support them with their vital work."

Matt Hancock said the rules would be the same as those announced earlier in the week for the North East.

He told the Commons: "We recommend against all social-mixing between people in different households.

"We will bring in regulations, as we have in the North East, to prevent in law social mixing between people in different households in all settings except outdoor public spaces like parks and outdoor hospitality.

"We also recommend that people should not attend professional or amateur sporting events as spectators in the areas that are affected.

"We recommend that people only visit care homes in exceptional circumstances and there will be guidance against all but essential travel. Essential travel, of course, includes going to work or school."

Matt Hancock said there was evidence that the Government’s restrictive measures "were beginning to work".

Earlier, he told the Commons: "There are also early signs that the actions that we’ve collectively taken over the past month are starting to have a positive impact.

"Today’s REACT (Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission) study from Imperial College suggests that whilst the R-number remains above one, there are early signs that it may be falling.

"We must not let up, but people everywhere can take some small hope that our efforts together may be beginning to work.

"I put it stronger than that. Cases are still rising."