‘CASES NOT FALLING AS FAR OR AS FAST IN COUNTY’

MIKE Sandys, director of public health at Leicestershire County Council, echoed Sir Peter’s calls for caution now the “irreversible” route out of lockdown has been laid out.

The original local lockdown red line on the map included areas of the county and Oadby and Wigston has lingered around the top of infection rate tables for much of the pandemic.

“In ruling out a return to the tier system, the government has almost ruled in local lockdowns if there are areas not meeting the four tests,” he said.

“Localised lockdowns are the obvious alternative, we know about those and none of us wants to go back to that.

“We are the crossroads of the country. How much of a role that plays we don’t know, but it must play a part at least.

“When rates were high in the North West in the summer we copped it, and then before Christmas when rates were bad in Kent and London we copped it again.

“When the virus is making its way around, because we are in the middle we are usually in there somewhere.”

North West Leicestershire is the latest area to be causing concern, but at some point most districts and boroughs, like everywhere else in the country, have had their moment.

Blaby, Melton and Charnwood have all had serious outbreaks during the pandemic.

The virus now remains “widespread”, said Mr Sandys, pictured below. reason for rates rising, it’s more widespread. “Worryingly in Leicestershire, we’re not seeing cases continuing to fall as far or as fast as other areas.

“The numbers have been plateauing in most areas and in some, like the north west of the county and parts of Charnwood, we’re seeing concerning increases.

“There aren’t any large outbreaks, but we are seeing more cases related to people in their workplace than elsewhere.” That is why, while we now know the route out of lockdown, we need to make sure we follow the rules and roadmap, Mr Sandys said.

“Just when we thought we were free before, the local lockdown was announced. “The only way we can ensure that doesn’t happen again is to keep on driving it down, hands, face and space. We all know this stuff but it’s no less important now than it has been throughout.”