Why aren’t local lockdowns working?
Infections rising in 19 out of 20 areas where extra restrictions are now in place
LOCAL curbs are not stopping Covid-19 cases from soaring in those areas, Labour our has warned.
Analysis found infections fections rising in 19 out of 20 0 spots affected. Keir Starmer armer told Boris Johnson: “This is getting ridiculous.” s.”
LEADERS in the worst-hit parts of the country are being left in the dark about Boris Johnson’s lockdown plans, as coronavirus rips through their communities.
Labour analysis published yesterday found infections are rising in 19 out of 20 areas with curbs imposed on them in the past two months.
But party boss Keir Starmer accused Mr Johnson of dithering after the PM could not explain why local lockdowns are not working.
And council chiefs demanded Mr Johnson hand over control of public health to them as he appears clueless about how to handle the growing number of local cases. Large swathes of the North have tougher curbs imposed on them. And Mr Starmer urged the PM to give them answers on what happens next. He said: “The PM really needs to understand that local communities are angry and frustrated. So will he level with the people of Bury, Burnley and Bolton and tell them: What does he think the central problem is that’s causing this? He can’t explain why an area goes into restrictions.
“He can’t explain what the different restrictions are, and he can’t explain how restrictions end. This is getting ridiculous.” ” Mr Starmer also asked the PM for evidence the 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants was helping to stop the spread of the virus, ahead of a vote next week in which Tory MPs are poised to rebel against him. Newcastle city y council leader Nick Forbes said: “The lockdown measures aren’t working.
“We want a much more locally led approach to lockdowns and economic recovery, as the centralised response doesn’t fully take into account local conditions and circumstances. We need dialogue with Government rather than diktats announced without notice.” Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: “We are prepared to work with the Government but time is running out to get these things right.
“It is now urgent we get the support in place, otherwise the North-South divide will get even bigger.”
Mayor of the Liverpool city region Steve Rotheram added: “The Government hasn’t responded to our requests to evidence on the restrictions imposed in our area.
“Consultation has to be meaningful so that there is consistency of message. I’d certainly welcome anything that offers some clarity and transparency.”
As 14,162 new Covid-19 cases were reported across the UK, with 70
deaths, the Government was poised to shut pubs and restaurants in Covid-19 hotspots – although schools and workplaces would stay open.
Nicola Sturgeon imposed tougher restrictions on the hospitality sector in Scotland, increasing pressure on England to follow suit.
Pubs and restaurants north of the border will be banned from serving booze indoors and have to shut between 6pm and 6am for a 16-day “circuit break” from tomorrow.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock hinted the move would pave the way for similar restrictions, when he spoke in a webinar with the CBI. He said: “Outside your household and socialising between households, the highest place in incidence of likely transmission, measured by where people have contacts, is unfortunately hospitality. Now obviously that finding is not good news in terms of the policy action we have to take for that sector.” The Government’s scientific advisers sounded the alarm after the infection rate almost doubled in a week.
Professor John Edmunds, of SAGE, slammed the existing “light touch” measures and said: “That’s just delaying the inevitable.” Colleague Professor Stephen Reicher warned the virus could reach the same levels as March by the end of this month. He added: “We have a window of opportunity to do something. If we squander it we really are in trouble.”
The PM’s official spokesman said: “We’re seeing cases rising across the country but they’re rising faster across the North East and North West. We won’t hesitate to take further action in areas where cases rise significantly.”
Knowsley in Merseyside now has the highest rate, with 867 new cases recorded in the seven days to October 4, or 574.7 cases per 100,000 people.
Liverpool and Manchester are not far behind on rising numbers.
But pub bosses fear the 10pm curfew could cripple their industry.
The Greene King brewery chain announced yesterday it plans to shut dozens of pubs with the loss of 800 jobs across the country.
A UCL survey found 27% of people have “no confidence at all” in the Government’s handling of the pandemic – up from 6% in March.