Calls to release some city suburbs from restrictions Case numbers confirmed
COUNCIL LEADER UNDER PRESSURE TO ASK MINISTER TO RETHINK STATUS OF GLENFIELD, THURMASTON, BIRSTALL
THE government is being asked to release some suburbs of Leicester from lockdown.
Leicestershire County Council leader Nick Rushton said he would be raising the issue with Health Secretary Matt Hancock in a conference call due to happen yesterday.
Coun Rushton said he himself had been heavily lobbied by residents who do not think the number of people testing positive for coronavirus merits their lockdown status.
He said: “There is a sensitivity from residents about Thurmaston, Birstall and Glenfield. When you look at the numbers they are low.
“If they were on their own they would not be in the lockdown.
“If you look at Oadby and Wigston, a lot closer to the city, it probably would be so we are in a bit of difficulty.
“The only person who can amend the boundary is the Secretary of State. It is not me.
“There is pressure from Thurmaston, Glenfield and Birstall.
“I will ask him but it is not my call.” He added: “I can ask him (Mr Hancock) and tell him I’m getting a lot of stick about it but I expect he will say he will be guided by the science.
“Just because people are moaning – and they really are moaning, I’m getting deluged with e-mails from people with the bit between their teeth – it doesn’t necessarily mean they will escape the lockdown.
“But I will bring whatever pressure to bear as the county leader on ‘NOT MY CALL’: County council leader Nick Rushton, left, was asking Health Minister Matt Hancock to amend the local lockdown boundary
the Secretary of State.” Yesterday, deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van Tam was asked about the boundaries of the Leicester lockdown zone in a BBC Leicester interview and said people did not “live in tiny islands”.
More than 150 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Leicester and Leicestershire since Friday.
There have been 152 new cases identified – 116 cases have been confirmed in Leicester, with the remaining 36 detected in county areas.
Broken down to district and borough council level, the data shows that Charnwood was worst hit, adding 11 new cases to its total.
Oadby and Wigston, an area that has been described as a “concern” to health chiefs, recorded seven new cases.
Hinckley and Bosworth, North West Leicestershire and Melton all
LATEST confirmed cases data available – published on Sunday, July 12 in relation to positive cases up until Saturday, July 11 –- is as below. Leicester - 4,265 total cases. Rate per 100,000 population: 1,200
Blaby - 490 total cases. Rate per 100,000 population: 487 Charnwood - 792 total cases. Rate per 100,000 population: 433
Harborough - 375 total cases. Rate per 100,000 population: 405
Hinckley and Bosworth - 534 total cases. Rate per 100,000 population: 475
Melton - 158 total cases. Rate per 100,000 population: 309
North West Leicestershire - 317 total cases. Rate per 100,000 population: 310
Oadby and Wigston - 422 total cases. Rate per 100,000 population: 739
added four cases; three more cases were detected in both Blaby and Harborough.
A review of the Leicester lockdown is due by Saturday but the Department of Health and Social Care has not yet said when or how its decision will be made.
It will either lift the restrictions or re-impose them for at least another fortnight.
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