Greater Manchester lockdown – Ban on meeting pals & family indoors in North West to stay for next week with cases rising

A BAN on meeting friends and family indoors in Greater Manchester is to remain for another week following a surge in coronavirus cases.

Current “vital” rules on gatherings in the North West will remain in place “to tackle the spread of the disease”, the Department of Health and Social Care said today.

Other areas to be affected by today’s announcement include West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester.

Casinos, skating rinks, bowling alleys, exhibition halls, conference centres and indoor play areas will not be permitted to open in these areas.

The latest data also shows a continued rise in cases in Oldham and Pendle while numbers remain high in Blackburn with Darwen.

Government officials will now work with local leaders in these areas by setting up a “enhanced incident team” to tackle the rate of infection.

Residents will still not able to meet people they do not live with inside a private home or garden – unless they have formed a support bubble.

Locals will not be allowed to socialise with other people in pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops or places of worship.

People can, however, meet others in groups up to six individuals – or two households – in outdoor public places.

But nail bars, spas, beauty salons, pools and indoor gyms will remained closed in Leicester, Blackburn and Bradford.

Vulnerable people will still need to shield in Blackburn with Darwen and Leicester.

Meanwhile, Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire were added as areas of concern following a recent spike in coronavirus cases.

Today, the Health Secretary said the strict rules – introduced two weeks ago – must remain in place to help protect local residents.

Edward Argar, Minister for Health, said: “I’d like to thank everyone in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester for their continued patience in following these vital rules put in place to tackle the spread of the disease – I know it hasn’t been easy.

It is essential we all remain vigilant, and I urge everyone in these areas to continue to follow the rules.”

Minister for Health, Edward Argar

“We will review the measures again next week as part of our ongoing surveillance and monitoring of the latest data.

“It is essential we all remain vigilant, and I urge everyone in these areas to continue to follow the rules.

“Wash your hands regularly, follow social distancing, get yourself a free test as soon as you get any symptoms, and isolate if NHS Test and Trace tells you to.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Combined Authority said: “The Mayor of Greater Manchester and leaders once again agreed on Wednesday that increased restrictions should continue across the city-region for another week.

“The situation in Greater Manchester remains challenging. It is clear that while the current restrictions appear to be having a positive effect in some places, we urgently need to bring the number of cases down in several boroughs.

The best way to stop the spread of the virus is to limit those who you have contact with. DO NOT have visitors to your home or garden.”

Oldham Council

“Everyone in Greater Manchester must do all they can to reduce the number of cases.

“That means individuals, pubs, restaurants and supermarkets all taking this seriously and following all the regulations.

“We will continue to work as one Greater Manchester system with a particular focus on providing support to Oldham as they strengthen further their intensive test and trace operation.”

It comes after a surge in coronavirus cases among people in their 20s and 30s in Oldham.

Leicester saw the first local lockdown on June 29. At that point, the infection rate in the East Midlands city was 135 cases per 100,000 people.

In Oldham, the current rate is 104.6 per 100,000 people.

This week, locals were told to “act now” to avoid Leicester-style restrictions just days after cops received 100 calls about people breaking rules to host parties over the weekend.

BBQ PARTIES

Oldham Council had previously warned: “You need to act NOW. If everyone makes these small changes we can avoid a second lockdown – but there is no time to lose.

“The best way to stop the spread of the virus is to limit those who you have contact with – spend time with those in your household and work from home where possible. DO NOT have visitors to your home or garden.”

Councillor Arooj Shah, Cabinet member for coronavirus recovery, said the borough was in a really “serious” situation.

She said Greater Manchester Police received a hundred calls over the weekend with reports of locals breaking rules to host parties and BBQs in Oldham.

Greater Manchester Police said they received 1,106 reports of people flouting newly-imposed restrictions across the whole county last weekend.

Tougher lockdown restrictions were reintroduced in Greater Manchester and other parts of northern England on July 31, following an upsurge in Covid-19 cases.

Anyone found flouting the rules could be fined £100 up to a maximum of £3,200 for repeat offences.

The restrictions must be reviewed every fortnight.