Local lockdown stays in place for Calderdale
RESTRICTIONS BANNING people in Calderdale from visiting friends and family due to a spike in coronavirus will remain in place without any changes, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced.
He said yesterday that data showed transmission rates were not yet low enough in Calderdale, Bradford and Kirklees to allow the rules to be eased.
The move disappointed Tory MPs who had lobbied Mr Hancock to take a more localised approach and release parts of their constituencies from restrictions where cases had been low. However, the local lockdown restrictions will be reviewed again tomorrow.
Calderdale Council’s leader, Coun Tim Swift, said: “We still have a very serious risk of Covid-19 in our communities, with infection rates sadly increasing. We must all pull together and keep doing everything we can to protect each other.
“It’s the best way to beat this terrible disease so that we can get back to safely enjoying our usual social activities again as soon as possible.”
The rules on social gatherings will also continue in parts of the North-West and Leicester, with Preston also added to the list.
The measures were announced last week to urgently tackle an increase in Covid-19 cases in the areas. It means visits outside a support bubble cannot be held indoors or in private gardens but people are still able to meet others in groups of up to six, or two households, in outdoor public places.
Mr Hancock said: “As we continue to see rising rates of the virus across Europe, it is vital we take every precaution to protect our country.
“I urge everyone in these areas to follow the rules, get yourself a free test as soon as you get any symptoms and isolate if NHS test and trace tells you to.”
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