Birmingham and West Midlands set to move into Tier 3

Birmingham and most of the West Midlands is set to move into the highest alert level for coronavirus restrictions.

ITV News understands it's "highly likely" Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Solihull and Birmingham will move into the highest level of Coronavirus restrictions, possibly next weekend.

Coventry and Dudley are less likely - it all depends on infection rates.

• Covid: What are the new three-tier local rules for England?

Coronavirus hospital admissions and community cases across Birmingham have been rapidly increasing, which have made the case for more restrictions now 'pressing and urgent'.

The 'very worrying' position of the West Midlands was discussed at a Gold Command meeting chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

As a result the leader of Birmingham City Council, Ian Ward, says it is inevitable that the city will move into tier 3 restrictions if cases continue to rise.

Covid tiers: What are the differences between each alert level in England?

• Medium (Tier 1) - Rule of six applies indoors and outdoors. Pubs and restaurants close at 10pm.

• High (Tier 2) - Households must not mix indoors in any setting including pubs and restaurants. Rule of six applies outdoors.

• Very high (Tier 3) - Households must not mix indoors, or in private gardens. Rule of six applies in outdoor spaces including parks. Pubs and bars which don't serve meals will be closed.

ITV News Business Correspondent, Mark Gough, has been speaking to the City Council this morning.

The city's case rate is now above 250 cases per 100,000 people.

The NHS has also reported that 43 more people have died in Midlands hospitals, who tested positive for the Coronavirus, in the last 24 hours.

That's the second highest death rate across the UK. The North West was first, reporting 73 coronavirus related deaths in the last 24 hours.

• The latest NHS data on deaths with Coronavirus in Midlands hospitals

• Covid: England reaches 'critical stage' in second wave with estimated 96,000 new infections per day

The city's hospitals have been under rising pressure the past fortnight. There are now more than 300 patients with coronavirus in hospital beds at University Hospitals Birmingham, including 34 fighting for life in intensive care.

Mayor Andy Street and council leaders are leading talks behind the scenes to ensure a full package of support measures and financial backing for affected businesses is in place before the measures come into force.

Read more:

Getting the facts:

• All your Coronavirus questions answered

• Coronavirus: What You Need To Know - the ITV News podcast with information, advice and analysis on the pandemic

• Check the number of cases in your area on an interactive map 

Restrictions and tiers:

• Check local Coronavirus restrictions where you live

• What are the three tiers?

• What does the 'rule of six' mean?

• What are the rules for shielders?

Tracking and testing:

• How the Coronavirus tracing app works

• When should you get a test?

• What are the rules for isolating?

Treatment and survival:

• Why Coronavirus survival rates are better in Leicester than anywhere else in the country

• When will a vaccine be ready?

• Inside the NHS Nightingale Hospital at the NEC

• Meet Britain's oldest Coronavirus survivor

Experience:

• 'It's been colossal': NHS staff on the frontline in the fight against Coronavirus

• "It can be a bit scary sometimes": A day in the life of a mental health nurse on a Covid-19 ward

• Living with Long Covid

• Mother opens up about her son who took his own life during lockdown

• 'It's been a struggle': Profoundly deaf NHS worker on the challenges of being surrounded by people wearing face masks

• Nurse's swine flu work saves dementia residents with coronavirus

• Social distancing is 'almost impossible' for SEN children

• Three friends stuck in 'eternal hell' after being held against their will in Italian quarantine centre

• Care home worker reunited with family after moving out for eight weeks to protect them from coronavirus

• André Rieu surprises 86-year-old Coronavirus survivor"My life can't end like this."

• A doctor who nearly died from Covid-19 in his own hospital returns to work