Leicester could see local lockdown after surge in cases of coronavirus

The government says it is supporting officials in Leicester in their battle against Covid-19 after a report the city could be subject to Britain’s first local lockdown this week.

The UK government is reportedly preparing to impose the lockdown “within days” after a surge in coronavirus cases in the city.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is believed to be examining legal aspects of the shutdown after it was revealed 658 new cases were recorded in the Leicester area in the two weeks to 16 June.

The Department of Health and Social Care yesterday stopped short of saying a local lockdown was likely for Leicester, but acknowledged the city was an area of concern as it urged residents in the city to be vigilant against the virus.

“We are supporting the council and local partners in Leicester to help prevent further transmission of the virus,” the spokesman said.

“We have deployed four mobile testing sites and made thousands of home testing kits available, to ensure anyone in the area who needs a test can get one. NHS Test and Trace will contact anyone testing positive to help them identify their recent contacts and advise who may have been near to someone with the virus to stay at home.

“We urge the people of Leicester to continue to practice social distancing, wash their hands regularly, get tested immediately if they have symptoms and follow the advice they receive if contacted by NHS Test and Trace. ”

Leicester’s rise in cases follows an outbreak in food production plants in the area.

Keith Neal, emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said defining the lockdown area would be “one of the biggest problems”.