Timeline: Key dates in 100
FROM THE FIRST HINTS OF A RISE IN CASES TO THE SITUATION TODAY – AMY ORTON CHARTS WEEKS OF CHANGING REGULATIONS, POLITICAL WRANGLING AND PUBLIC PERSEVERANCE
JUNE 1
Children in reception, year 1 and year 6 return to school for the first time in weeks. But cases in the city were already steadily rising.
JUNE 8
This is the day the Government has since said is when the local outbreak started rearing its head. The Prime Minister said it was the day Number 10 first took notice of and, as a result, took action on what was happening.
On the same day, an unnamed city school that had not long reopened to some pupils closed after a teacher tested positive.
Figures published by the Government do not seem to suggest there is anything to be concerned about. The numbers, relating only to those tested in NHS settings, are in line with elsewhere in the country.
A Public Health England report confirms an increase in cases in the city. At this point, information available to the public still gave no clue as to the extent of the increase. Non-essential shops opened.
The day the outbreak goes public. In the daily Number 10 briefing, Matt Hancock said: “There is an outbreak right now in parts of Leicester that we’re working hard to track down and we’re putting in a mobile testing unit and we are working hard on that. It’s natural as lockdown lifts, the next move is to more local action in order to tackle outbreaks as we find them.”
The city was taken by surprise. Earlier that day, Ivan Browne, Leicester City Council’s director of public health, had spoken to the Mercury about a recent spike in cases he had just been made aware of.
Data day. The government says this is the day Leicester and other local authorities were given more detail about local testing and results.
This data included pillar two – in the community – test results, something not previously available to the public.
The Mercury asked about the prospect of a localised lockdown. Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said it would be a “blunt instrument”.
A testing centre was set up in Spinney Hill Park. For the first time in the city, residents could just turn up for a test, with or without an appointment, and could also walk in.
97 cases were confirmed – the city’s highest increase in one day.
It was the day Public Health England said it began providing record level positive test data, including postcodes, to local authorities and directors of public health.
Records suggest Leicester did not access this until June 26 – after it had signed data protection agreements.
JUNE 28
Rumours were rife in the national press Leicester would be the first city to be locked down. Home Secretary Priti Patel told Andrew Marr it was happening.
Shadow Health Secretary and Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth played down the prospect after speaking to Mr Hancock. He suggested the Home Secretary had got in “a muddle”.
Sir Peter Soulsby maintained there was no “immediate prospect” of lockdown.
JUNE 29
A furious Sir Peter Soulsby told the Mercury he received a report from Public Health England at 1.04am suggesting lockdown was extended in Leicester. But no mention of closing schools and non-essential retail.
An announcement in the Commons was scheduled for 5pm, but it was 9pm before Matt Hancock was on his feet delivering the news Leicester did not want to hear.
Shortly after, a conference call decided where the line would be drawn on the map. Thanks to county council leader Nick Rushton, we now know some lobbied for the whole of Leicestershire to be included.
JUNE 30
The city was in lockdown, but much of the county was confused and anxiously awaiting news as to whether they would be subject to restrictions.
At 9.40am the map arrived. It showed who was inside and who was outside of the red line. Just after 5pm, the Leicester lockdown rules and regulations were announced. They would be reviewed by July 18 and, if required, fortnightly.
JULY 1
We were nearer to knowing the answer to a major question – “why?”
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said there were “multiple reasons”. People not following the twometre rule was one of them.
In the Commons, the PM said “particular problems” with messaging in Leicester was another factor.
Rows between the Government and Sir Peter Soulsby were rumbling on.
Neighbouring cities warned Leicester folk would not be welcome while pubs in towns said they would check postcodes before letting people in.
JULY 4
Super Saturday, also known as Independence Day, happened everywhere else.