Anxious city faces threat of lockdown
Woman in city yesterday
PEOPLE in Leicester were said to be “deeply anxious” yesterday as it emerged the city could be forced into Britain’s first local lockdown.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is reportedly examining legal aspects of such a move after 658 new cases were recorded in the area in the two weeks to June 16.
Hundreds of people flocked to a car boot sale around nine miles outside Leicester yesterday.
Steve Neale posed on social media about the packed event in Quorn, Leics: “Social distancing out the window already.”
When told it was nothing to do with him, he replied: “It will be if the virus ends up in Quorn, that’s a mindless attitude and why this country is the worst infected.”
Leicester MP and Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “People in Leicester are deeply anxious. We need clarity from ministers about what is planned and resources to ensure everyone who needs a test can access one quickly.”
HARDLY able to control her emotions, a nurse hugs her two-year-old son for the first time in 11 weeks.
Charlotte Cole embraced her lad George who had been living at his grandparents’ home to keep him safe.
The boy had been there since April after a confirmed coronavirus case at one of Charlotte’s workplaces.
George sprinted to his parents as they were finally reunited.
Charlotte, from Kirkham, Lancs, said: “We went to pick him up and he came running at us – it was so overwhelming.
“I’ve never seen him run so fast and he grabbed on to us so tightly. I never wanted to let him go. It felt amazing to hold him again and hear his little voice.
“There were a few waterworks. I tried to put on a brave face but I was an emotional wreck.”
Mum-of-one Charlotte, a care quality nurse, who oversees seven care homes, added: “My heart feels full again.”
She said: “I never thought it would be this long – we thought it would be a couple of weeks at most... It’s wonderful to have his energy in the house again. I missed tucking him into bed.”
Charlotte and George’s dad Daniel, both 30, had managed to see their lad through the safety of a window in May.