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Manchester so far is refusing to go into Tier 3 as it wants a better financial package for businesses affected. Anthony Devlin/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Stricter restrictions in England have seen 28 million people affected, with many in the hospitality sector unhappy and the city of Manchester rebelling.
Liverpool was the first city to go under Tier 3 restrictions, but already it's been joined by the county of Lancashire in North West of England.
Areas facing the highest level of restrictions, known as Tier 3, allow no household mixing outdoors or indoors, pubs and bars not serving meals must close, and in many cases, gyms and other gathering places must close as well.
The government wants to put Greater Manchester into Tier 3 conditions too but so far, the local authorities are resisting on the grounds that businesses are not being offered enough support.
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ACROSS EUROPE EMPLOYERS ARE BEING ASKED TO SUPPORT THOSE WORKING FROM HOME
Downing Street could force the issue, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he wants to avoid that.
"Of course, if agreement cannot be reached, I will need to intervene in order to protect Manchester's hospitals and save the lives of Manchester's residents," said Johnson.
"But our efforts will be so much more effective if we work together."
As well as the cities of London and York, smaller towns like Elmbridge, Barrow-in-Furness, and Chesterfield go on the Tier 2 list and counties like Essex and north east Derbyshire.
The restrictions have been criticized by some in the hospitality industry who feel they have been unfairly treated. Many restaurants and pubs have seen a drop in clients with people put off by the new rules.
Clarrie O'Callaghan, the owner of the Rattle Owl restaurant in London, says they have been badly hit.
"It's had a massive impact, almost immediately we had cancellations through and we've had to ring and proactively reach out to people as well.
"It's the equivalent for us of about £3,500 ($4,102) worth of takings over this weekend coming," O'Callaghan told CGTN Europe.
The town of Blackpool in Lanchashire has been put into the strictest Tier 3 level. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
And on Friday evening in the center of London, restaurant-goers were talking about their night out before lockdown as if this was the last chance.
Of course, the government is hoping to jolt the general public into more restrained behavior without actually freezing all economic activity as happened in March.
The growing row with Manchester authorities shows stronger restrictions can be delayed as local government argue for a better financial package for businesses affected.
Still, for the most part, those UK politicians putting the economy first are outnumbered by a broader consensus towards increasing restrictions.
The government's advisors from the Scientific Advice Group for Emergencies have broken ranks in recent days leading to both chief advisors, Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, to publicly express concerns that the government measures are either too late or simply don't go far enough.
