Virus crackdown in north England
PEOPLE from different households in Greater Manchester, parts of East Lancashire and West Yorkshire are being banned from meeting each other indoors, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced yesterday.
Mr Hancock said “households gathering and not abiding by the social distancing rules” was a reason for the stricter rules and it was in order to “keep the country safe”.
He said: “We take this action with a heavy heart but unfortunately it’s necessary because we’ve seen that households meeting up and a lack of social distancing is one of the causes of this rising rate of coronavirus and we’ll do whatever is necessary to keep the country safe.”
Mr Hancock added: “We’re constantly vigilant and we’ve been looking at the data, and unfortunately we’ve seen across parts of northern England an increase in the number of cases of coronavirus.
“So, today, I held a meeting of the Government’s Gold Committee and working with local leaders, including, for instance, Andy Burnham the mayor of Greater Manchester, we’ve decided that we need to take action across Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire.
“So, from midnight tonight (Friday) we are banning households meeting up indoors.”
The new restrictions apply to the whole of Greater Manchester, parts of East Lancashire including Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and parts of West Yorkshire including Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.
The same restrictions will also apply to Leicester, which saw the first so-called “local lockdown” imposed on June 29.
Holly Lynch, MP for Halifax in West Yorkshire and shadow immigration minister, tweeted: “I appreciate people will be apprehensive tonight about the renewed lockdown measures across Calderdale + other parts of the country. I am disappointed to say that like you, I have had no further detail at all from Government, but let’s make this work + stay safe.”
MP for Wigan and shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy tweeted: “Told tonight this applies to homes AND gardens but you can still visit public spaces where social distancing measures are in place. People will have a lot of questions and we are pressing for more information quickly. It is really hard but please follow advice and stay safe.”
Liz Kendall, MP for Leicester West, tweeted: “Just been on call with Minister about £LeicesterLockdown.
“The great news is our pubs, cafes, bars & restaurants can re-open and people can go on holiday with their own household.
“But leisure centres, gyms & pools still closed, and no meeting up with other households indoors.”