Baffled Manchester families told to enjoy Eat Out To Help Out scheme – but can’t see their parents in the garden
FURIOUS Manchester familes have lashed out after being told to enjoy the Eat Out To Help Out scheme, but can’t see their parents in the garden.
Baffled people vented their frustration on social media over the Government’s confusing message – the day after a major incident was declared over rising coronavirus cases.
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The Chancellor’s scheme starts today – with thousands of restaurants around the UK participating in the Monday to Wednesday savings offer.
This morning Business and Industry Minister Nadhim Zahawi was asked if the Government is encouraging people in areas with infection spikes to use its Eat Out To Help Out scheme – after Manchester’s infection rate doubled in a week.
He said: “Well I would say check the local guidelines.
“But actually, if you’re going to sit outdoors and support your local restaurant within the rules, so no more than six people or two families, then you should be able to support those restaurants, rightly so.”
But people in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire affected by the quickfire new lockdown said his advice is wrong, and the encouragment to go out is “tempting fate”.
One person tweeted: “In Manchester, I can’t see my family but can eat out or go to the pub? Nice one #EatOutToHelpOut.”
And another angry resident said: “If you’re from Greater Manchester you can be sacked for not going into the office.
“Someone in that office can’t come to your home or you get fined.
“But you can eat out with them and get 50 per cent off meal and have a beer.”
Why has a major incident been declared in Manchester?
Infection rates for the seven days to Friday showed cases per 100,000 of the population were continuing to rise in each area of Greater Manchester.
Alarmingly, cases in Manchester and Tameside have more than doubled in seven days.
Oldham has the highest rates per 100,000 in the authority – and that’s still growing rapidly.
It recorded 31 cases in a single day on July 28 – the highest day since early May.
Manchester reported 178 cases in the week to July 31, with 36 of them coming on July 29.
The government has blamed the spike of infection rates in the North West hotspots on people “entering other people’s home”, and so banned two households mingling indoors.
It came into effect on Friday, with just hours notice, after experts met to discuss the danger signs of a rise in coronavirus.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last week he was introducing the clampdown for 4.5million people with a “heavy heart” – but had been “chilled” by soaring infection rates in northern England.
And he said the spread in nine areas was “largely due to households meeting and not abiding by social distancing rules”.
The laws mean different households are now outlawed from meeting in private gardens or indoors, including homes, pubs and restaurants.
However, Brits can still go to pub gardens – a rule that was met with frustration and confusion.
One woman wrote: “I live near Manchester I can spend time with my 78-year-old mum in a pub restaurant or supermarket but not in my garden the world has definitely gone mad.”
On the scheme launch today, one baffled Manchester resident said: “I could get a packed tram into Manchester tomorrow, do a bit of shopping, have a pint, eat out, but my mum can’t come round to give my daughter a birthday card!?”
And another raged: “Locked down in the north west re meeting family but please out at a restaurant with randomers.”
It comes as Mr Sunak heralded the start of the Treasury’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme – an offer of half-price meals during August in order to entice people out of their stay-at-home lockdown habits and into restaurants and pubs again after the hospitality sector was badly hit by the pandemic.
The incentive will reduce bills by 50% for all eat-in meals ordered between Monday and Wednesday this month at 72,000 participating establishments, including chains such as McDonald’s, Nando’s and Prezzo.
The discount per person will be capped at £10 and does not apply to alcohol.
Provisional figures for the week to Friday, which will be revised by Public Health England in the coming 24 hours, suggest that trend then continued upwards.
The major incident declared yesterday means the region can access extra national resources – such as the Army – if it becomes necessary.
Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burham called for the Government to re-introduce shielding measures, which came to an end in England on July 31.
