COUNCILLOR Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, has confirmed Dudley will join its neighbours and enter Tier 2 by the end of the week to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

The authority has been in tier one (medium) since the new Covid-19 tier system was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson but cases of the virus have continued to spiral in the borough so it will now move into Tier 2 (high).

Cllr Harley said: "The number of cases has continued to rise to a level which means by end of the week Dudley like all its West Midlands neighbours will enter Tier 2."

The rate of infection in Dudley is currently 212.1 cases per 100,000 people and there have been 615 cases confirmed in the last seven days, according to Dudley's Covid-19 dashboard, compared to 405 in the previous seven days.

On October 20 alone 122 cases of the virus were confirmed - the highest number ever confirmed in the borough on a single day and more than 154 per cent higher than the most amount of cases reported in one day during the national coronavirus lockdown in April.

The change will mean people will no longer be able to socialise with anybody outside of their household or support bubble in any indoor setting, at home or in a public place.

The rule of six will still apply outdoors and pubs will remain open but will shut at 10pm.

Businesses and venues will be able to continue to operate in a Covid-secure manner.