Preston plunged into lockdown after cases spike
A BAN on household gatherings comes in to force from today in Preston, the latest city to be hit by a local lockdown.
Curbs are already in place in parts of the North-west and Yorkshire plus Leicester which will remain in place after a review by ministers and councils.
Experts found coronavirus infection rates have failed to reduce in these areas despite measures to reduce the spread of the disease.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Unfortunately, the data does not yet show a decrease in the transmission of this terrible virus.
“It means we must keep the current restrictions in place to allow more time for the impact of this ban on indoor gatherings to be felt, and make sure local residents and their loved ones are protected.
“At the request of the local area we are also extending these restrictions to Preston.
“We are constantly examining the data on the prevalence of the virus in these areas, and we will review the measures again next week.
“As we continue to see rising rates of the virus across Europe, it is vital we take every precaution to protect our country. “
Preston was designated an “area of intervention” by the Government after a spike in cases.
Households in the Lancashire city can no longer mix in each other’s homes and gardens and should not be meeting up with other people anywhere indoors.
Social bubbles are exempt from the restrictions, and residents can meet in groups of up to six – or more than six if exclusively from two households – in outdoor areas.
Households can also visit indoor hospitality venues, so long as they do not mix with others.
Restrictions will be reviewed again next week with any changes announced by Friday.
People mixing with other households in pubs, as well as in their homes, led to a need for increased coronavirus restrictions in Preston, the area’s director of public health said.
Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health for Lancashire, said almost half of the cases reported were among people aged 30 and younger.
A spike in cases was “affecting people from both south Asian and white ethnic backgrounds, particularly those living in poor socio-economic conditions in our city,” he said.
He added: “I want to pay extra attention to indoor spaces, particularly pubs, where high numbers of people are mixing between households.
“That’s a worrying pattern that we really must avoid.”
Adrian Phillips, Preston City Council chief executive, said that the number of cases in Preston had increased rapidly in recent days.
He added: “It is also alarming to see that the under-30s are contracting it at a significant rate.
“It is clear that coronavirus is still here and we all need to work together to keep ourselves, our friends, families and communities safe from this virus. While some wards have recorded a higher level of cases, this remains a city-wide issue and it’s essential that we all do our part to fight the virus.
“We’re urging everyone to be diligent and follow the restrictions, in order to protect all of our residents, communities and businesses.”
The rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 in Preston has risen from 20.3 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to July 27 to 32.8 in the seven days to August 3. A total of 47 new cases have been recorded.
Extra restrictions come in across the whole of England
from today making face coverings mandatory in more indoor areas, including churches, museums and galleries, bingo halls and libraries.
Rules stopping social visits to homes in Greater Manchester, Leicester, parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire remain in place.
Pools, indoor gyms and other leisure facilities will continue to remain closed in Leicester, Bradford and Blackburn.
Shielding will also continue for those communities in Blackburn with Darwen, and Leicester city.