CITY SHOWS HOW EASY IT IS TO FALL BACK TO CRISIS...

A FURIOUS row broke out yesterday over the UK government’s decision to put Leicester back in lockdown – starkly illustrating to businesses and officials here what may happen if Ireland is hit by a fresh wave of coronavirus cases.

Leicester mayor Peter Soulsby demanded a new bailout for struggling businesses, while the local policing commissioner criticised the ‘drip-feeding’ of information to agencies on the ground. There was anger that a map showing which parts of the city and surrounding areas were subject to the lockdown only emerged ‘well after’ it had been announced.

Niall Dickson, head of the NHS Confederation, said the lockdown had been ‘clouded in confusion’, warning: ‘What has happened in Leicester could well be repeated elsewhere and we need a transparent approach for any future local lockdowns.’

Non-essential shops that reopened a fortnight ago were told to close yesterday and schools must also shut. Residents were advised to stay at home as much as possible and warned against all but essential travel. The lockdown zone also takes in 239 restaurants, 196 hair salons or barbers and 182 pubs, most of which had been preparing to open on Saturday.

The percentage of people aged 18 and under being diagnosed with the virus in Leicester has trebled from 5% to 15% over the last six weeks, health officials said.

Willy Bach, police and crime commissioner for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, criticised the lockdown process. ‘We were not even provided with a map of the [lockdown] area until well after the announcement. I have a great deal of sympathy with the agencies charged with delivery. They needed clarity from the start, and I am astonished that it is being drip-fed as the day progresses,’ he said.