VIRUS SCREW TURNED AGAIN
STRICT LOCKDOWN RULES RETURN TO GREATER MANCHESTER AS RATES SOAR IN PARTS OF THE REGION
STRICT new lockdown measures have been introduced in Bolton as the number of coronavirus cases in the town continues to spike.
The rate of new cases in the town has now reached 120 for every 100,000 people, meaning it remains the highest in the country.
As a results pubs, bars and restaurants will only be allowed to serve takeaway only – and will not be allowed to open between 10pm and 5am.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons yesterday that further restrictions will be announced.
Mr Hancock said this sudden increase in positive tests was largely down to ‘socialising by people in their 20s and 30s’.
He said: “Unfortunately after improving for several weeks, we’ve seen a very significant rise in cases in Bolton. Bolton is up to 120 cases per 100,000 of population, the highest case rate in the country and I’m publishing the data behind the decisions that we’ve taken.
“I must therefore tell that House that, working with the local council, we’re taking further local action.
“The rise in cases in Bolton is partly due to socialising by people in their 20s and 30s, we know this from contact tracing.
“And through our contacting tracing system we’ve identified a number of pubs at which the virus has spread significantly.
“We’re therefore taking the following action in Bolton starting immediately. We will restrict all hospitality to takeaways only and we’ll introduce a late-night restriction of operating hours which will mean all venues will be required to close from 10pm to 5am.
“We’ll introduce urgently further measures that put the current guidance that people cannot socialise outside their household into law.”
There will also be tighter restrictions on care homes, the Health Secretary said.
“We’re also putting in place extra measures including visitor restrictions to restrict the spread of virus into care homes and hospitals in Bolton and I want to thank the leadership of Bolton council who are doing an outstanding job in very difficult circumstances,” he said.
He added: “And I want to say this to everybody directly living in Bolton – I know how anxious this can be, and I know the impact that these measures will have.
“We’re asking you to take a step back at a time when we all just want to get on with our lives and what we love and get back to normal. But we need to take this crucial step to keep the virus at bay.
“Because as we’ve seen elsewhere, if we act early and control the virus then we can save lives.”
People aged between 18 and 49 years old account for the majority of the cases and council leader David Greenhalgh claimed that the increase is ‘due to the irresponsible actions of a few’.
He added: “This is not something we want to do, but it is clear the virus is currently moving round the borough uncontrolled and so we need to halt the transmission rate.
“The rate has gone from 15 cases per 100,000 to over 120 in the space of two weeks, and if we do not get control of the virus now, we will continue to put our most vulnerable residents at risk and delay any return to normality.
“We are working across the council with the government and our partners to bring down the number of cases of this deadly virus, and to continue to press government for extra support for the hospitality sector as they are once again asked to close their doors.”
Meanwhile, residents in Rochdale are being warned they are at risk of a stricter lockdown due to a spike in coronavirus cases. The latest figures released yesterday show the borough now has an infection rate of 65.9 cases per 100,000 people – the highest since April 24 at the height of the pandemic.
Local officials are warning that the borough may need to follow in the footsteps of Bolton and impose further restrictions on the hospitality sector to get the spread of the virus under control.
Rochdale is already under local restrictions along with other Greater Manchester boroughs, but the council said in a press release they are worried ‘it is not working’.
Leaders are looking at changes including shutting food and drink businesses to takeaway only and tighter restrictions on meetings.
Coun Sara Rowbotham said: “The majority of our cases are people under 40 without symptoms but trends show this ultimately leads to the spread of the virus to older, more vulnerable residents which leads to hospitalisations and, sadly, deaths.”