Preston lockdown area map: New rules and council boundary

THE GOVERNMENT has made an announcement on local lockdowns Friday, August 7 in an attempt to curb Covid-19.

Following lightning lockdowns in Leicester, Aberdeen and Blackburn, Preston has become the latest area to be forced into curfew.

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When was Preston put into lockdown?

Preston is in lockdown as of midnight , Friday, August 7.

Local leaders in Preston previously warned that it could become the latest area to face a Government intervention, amid rising coronavirus rates in the Lancashire city.

The government made an announcement on Friday on the status of the local lockdown measures in the North West of England.

This also includes Leicester which has been in lockdown since June 29.

Measures banning mixing between households were reviewed on Thursday, August 6.

The review just one week after measures were brought in for residents in Greater Manchester, parts of east Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

Following the review, it was announced that Preston would be going into lockdown at midnight on Friday, August 7.

When was the announcement made?

Matt Hancock made an announcement on local lockdowns on Friday, August 7, 2020.

It meant Preston will become the latest metropolitan area to go into a second lockdown as of Saturday.

What new restrictions are in place?

People living within hotspot areas are no longer able to meet one another inside homes or private gardens, but can still meet other households in pubs and restaurants.

Residents of Preston will have the same measures following a surge in the number of new coronavirus cases.

These rules must be followed even where visiting people in areas without outbreaks.

As part of lockdown measures in place in areas such as Oldham, two households are no longer permitted to meet at home or in a private garden, except where they have formed a support bubble.

People are still able to meet others in groups up to 6 individuals, or 2 households, in outdoor public places.

Under the new lockdown restrictions, pubs and restaurants will remain open but two households will no longer be allowed to mix indoors.

People living in the lockdown zones can still continue to meet in outdoor public spaces in groups of up to six people.

When will the restrictions be lifted?

Restrictions will be subject to review over the coming weeks, on the same timeline as other areas in the North West that are in similar local lockdowns.

Matt Hancock said that the next review will be August 14.

How many cases are there in Preston?

The rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 in Preston has risen from 20.3 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to July 27 to 32.8 in the seven days to August 3.

Preston recorded 49 new cases of coronavirus in the week to July 31, more than double the week before when there were 22.

It is equivalent to almost 35 cases per 100,000 population.

To avoid having lockdown measures forced upon them, Preston Local Council already advised people living in the city to avoid having visitors to their homes.

In Blackburn with Darwen, the rate has fallen from 88.8 cases per 100,000 people to 82.2, with 123 new cases.

Oldham is in second place, where the seven-day rate has jumped from 55.7 to 67.9, with 161 new cases, while Pendle is third, where the rate has risen from 46.7 to 58.6, with 54 new cases.

Why has there been a spike in coronavirus cases?

A statement from Preston City council said evidence from Public Health England showed a spike of cases.

The city's location is in close proximity to areas that have seen similar spikes such as Blackburn and Burnley.

It read: “The city is surrounded by areas that have had enforced measures implemented by Government and we want to act now to stop that from happening in Preston.

“None of us want a local lockdown to be introduced in Preston, so, following a spike in cases, we need your help to prevent the situation from worsening.”