New Coronavirus Restrictions Hit Parts Of North-West, Yorkshire And Midlands
Areas in the north-west, West Yorkshire and the Midlands are the latest parts of the country to see tougher restrictions put in place to control the spread of coronavirus.
In the north-west Lancashire (excluding Blackpool and Greater Manchester), Merseyside, Warrington and Halton have been escalated to areas of intervention, with new restrictions in Wolverhampton, Oadby & Wigston in the Midlands, and parts of Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale in West Yorkshire.
The local lockdowns forbid households in all areas from mixing in any setting and will come in on Tuesday.
Additionally, in the north-west areas hospitality for food and drink will be restricted to table service and restaurants, pubs, cinemas and other entertainment and leisure venues will be required to close between 10pm to 5am.
Residents in those areas are also asked to only use public transport for essential purposes, such as travelling to school or work and avoid attending amateur and semi-professional sporting events as spectators.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “I know these restrictions will make every-day life harder for many, but I know that residents will work together and respect the rules so we can reduce rates of transmission.
“I urge local people to isolate and get a test if you have symptoms, follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace, and always remember ‘hands, face, space’. By sticking to these steps, we will get through this together.”
The restrictions come as rates in Liverpool have increased to 100.6 cases per 100,000 people, with Warrington rising to 111.2, Oadby and Wigston rising to 145.5, and Wolverhampton increasing to 61.8 in the week to September 11.
They follow the introduction of restrictions in the North East on Thursday.
Though expected, the news was not welcomed by everyone in the county.
Neil Shaw, chief executive of Rossendale Borough Council in Lancashire, had earlier called for the government not to impose tighter restrictions.