No easing yet for local area lockdowns
FIRST REVIEW SET FOR AUGUST 15
COUNCILS have confirmed when lockdown restrictions could be eased in West Yorkshire, after the tightening of measures in some places across the county.
Last Thursday night, Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale were slapped with stricter rules and measures after a spike in the number of coronavirus cases.
And, while the areas are governed by different local authorities, all will have the same lockdown review date carried out by central government.
Matt Hancock’s announcement took many, including the area’s councils, by surprise, with new rules restricting multiple households from gathering coming into place at midnight last Friday.
The three areas of West Yorkshire are now into their fourth day of local lockdowns, with the announcement coming on the eve of Eid - a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of fasting during Ramadan.
Some residents are already starting to get restless about the new restrictions imposed on their lives and, according to Bradford Council, no measures will be changed until Saturday, August 15, at the earliest.
The authority has confirmed the Government is reviewing infection levels on a weekly basis.
These reviews will determine what measures need to be put into place to curb the spread of coronavirus.
A spokeswoman for the council said: “There is a weekly cycle of meetings in which Government officials review infection levels in all local authorities and advise ministers accordingly.
“If our infection levels decline over a number of weeks, we would expect the Government to review and potentially lift restrictions.
“The Government has explicitly stated the household restrictions will be reviewed on August 15.”