NORTH ON THE EDGE
Places face 2nd lockdown ‘Hols man causes spike’
LEEDS has been added to the “areas of concern” list after a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Residents have been urged to follow guidelines to help avoid a potentially “catastrophic” lockdown. The spread has been increasingly detected in people aged between 18 and 34, with some concerns over activities such as house parties. Middlesbrough, South Tyneside, Corby and Kettering have also gone on the watchlist as areas of concern. An MP in Bolton, which has the highest Covid-19 rate in England, said there is speculation the explosion in numbers there is partly due to a man breaking quarantine rules after a holiday to Spain. It has been claimed he visited the town’s pubs and bars rather than selfisolating for two weeks. The number of Covid-19 deaths in the UK rose yesterday by 10 to 41,537. It comes as the nation recorded 1,940 new cases of the
virus, which is the highest daily total recorded since May 30.
Leeds has been put on the Government’s watchlist as cases have shot up in recent weeks.
The latest seven-day infection rate in the city has increased to 32.4 cases per 100,000 people, with 258 new cases identified.
Council leader Judith Blake said: “This is a pivotal moment in our efforts to control the spread of the virus and to keep our city open. “Nobody wants to see further restrictions on life in Leeds and we want to assure everyone that we’re doing everything within our power to avoid that happening. But if our infection rate continues to rise as it has been, we will be left with no alternative.” Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West, said authorities are working to “discourage gatherings and house parties”. Traders said they are worried about a return to stricter restrictions. Nico Pantu, owner of Grimm Tattoo Studio, said: “If Leeds is to go back into lockdown, it could be catastrophic for us.”
Bolton’s coronavirus rates have spiked despite being in tighter lockdown restrictions for over a month.
A total of 220 new cases were recorded there last week. The rate is 76.5 per 100,000 people – four times higher than the previous seven days.
Chris Green, MP for Bolton West, said: “The only suggestion I’ve heard to what’s happened is someone who
had been on holiday in Spain, came back, didn’t go into quarantine.
“He had coronavirus, went on a pub crawl. But I’m not sure that’s the whole story.”
As cases rise in Middlesbrough, its mayor Andy Preston called on Tesco to enforce mask wearing in stores.
He said he was shocked at the number of people “walking in completely unchallenged not covering their faces” at a branch in the town.
Mr Preston claimed the supermarket is putting “profits ahead of our jobs and our health”. Tesco said:
“Safety of our colleagues and customers is our top priority and we are encouraging all customers to follow our socialdistancing measures, including wearing face coverings when shopping with us.”
Labour’s Emma Lewell-Buck, the
MP for South
Shields, in South Tyneside, said a second lockdown there would be “devastating” for traders. She added: “Many of them have told me that if they shut their doors again g it will be permanent.”
Latest figures show the R rate – the number of people each person with the virus goes on to infect – may still be above one.
Th e da t a published by the Government’s SAGE group shows the estimate across the UK is between 0.9 and 1.1 – although it reflects the situation from a few weeks ago.
Lockdown restrictions in some areas were relaxed last night.
The Department of Health announced that sports facilities in Leicester, Blackburn and Bradford will be allowed to reopen from Tuesday.
On the same day casinos and other venues such as bowling alleys can reopen in most of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire. The relaxations will not apply in Bolton.
Wakefield, Slough, and Newark and Sherwood have been removed from the list of areas at risk of lockdowns.
Norfolk, Rossendale, and Northampton were added as areas of enhanced support, meaning the Government will work with councils to provide additional resources.
Anthony Baldwin, 34, of Little Sutton, Cheshire, has been charged with threatening behaviour and assaulting a police officer during a face mask row at Liverpool Lime Street station after reports of a man coughing at passengers on a train.