Government WILL meet with Hull to discuss extra Covid support
It's after an MP accused ministers of "not picking up the phone"
Last updated 19th Nov 2020
It's been confirmed that the Government will meet with Hull City Council to discuss extra support to tackle the surge in coronavirus cases.
Officials have agreed to hold talks on a "way forward" to help the city, after an MP accused ministers of failing to "pick up the phone."
Earlier this week, council leader Stephen Brady wrote a letter to the Prime-Minister to warn him that Hull was facing a "health emergency".
The city has the highest coronavirus rates in the country at the moment, with transmission estimated to be around 800 in every 100,000.
Councillor Brady told a meeting of Hull City Council that he did not know "what it meant" at this stage, but hopes to have a positive message to give out.
No specific date has been set yet, but the meeting will take place later this week.
Army on the streets of Humberside?
One of the demands that's repeatedly come up is extra support for testing, with thousands of rapid coronavirus tests confirmed for Hull.
MPs and councillors have both been calling for the army to be brought in to deliver testing, just like they were in Liverpool.
Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy has put it to the Prime-Minister this afternoon, who has told her the Government is looking to expand its testing programme with help from the forces.
At a council meeting on Thursday, there was cross-party support for bringing the Armed Forces into Hull to deliver test kits.