Coronavirus: MPs respond after north Derbyshire put on 'high alert'

Lee Rowley, MP for North East Derbyshire, said: “As rates have climbed in our area, we have been in intensive discussions with local public health leaders in and it is clear that there is a significant increase in cases all across north east Derbyshire and Chesterfield.

"Given the quick increase, it was increasingly likely that additional restrictions would be proposed for our area and that has now resulted in us moving up a tier.

"Mark and myself, along with local council leaders, all know that this will cause challenges for residents and our immediate focus now will be on helping to get on top of this outbreak so we can go back down a tier as soon as possible.”

Mark Fletcher, MP for Bolsover, said: “The last thing we want is for more challenges to local people, businesses and the community in the parts of north east Derbyshire that I represent.

"Both Lee and I have had extensive meetings, and we will continue to meet with ministers in Westminster to press the case about the support and help needed in north Derbyshire during this difficult time.”

Councillor Alex Dale, leader of North East Derbyshire District Council, said: “None of us want to be in a place where additional restrictions are necessary, but we must pull together so that we can get on top of the virus.

"We all need to work together and follow the guidelines so that we can get the number of cases down and have these tighter restrictions lifted again as soon as possible.”