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Leicester could be the first British city to go into a local lockdown after a spike in coronavirus cases there in June, Home Secretary Priti Patel has confirmed - but the local mayor said the plans had taken him 'by surprise'.
There have reportedly been a surge of more than 600 in cases in just two weeks this month in the East Midlands city, which is home to around 340,000 people. The city had 271 Covid-19 deaths up to June 12.
Leicester could face stricter lockdown rules as soon as next week if the Covid-19 situation does not come under control, meaning it could miss out on the mass easing expected for next Saturday, when pubs are set to reopen.
The Department of Health said it has sent extra testing units to Leicester to try and get on top of the virus and urged residents there to be strict about social distancing and washing their hands.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show this morning it was 'correct' that a local lockdown was on the cards, adding: 'With local flare-ups it is right we have a localised solution'.
She added: 'We have seen flare-ups across the country in recent weeks, in just the last three or four weeks in particular.'
The MP for Leicester East, Claudia Webbe, has actively called for her constituency to be locked down and for her constituents to stay home, saying schools and a supermarket have had to close because the virus is out of control there. The Labour slammed the Government's social distancing rules as 'at best confusing'.
However the Mayor of Leicester, Sir Peter Soulsby, said the council is not aware of any immediate plans for an isolated lockdown in the city and that suggestions it was set for next week were 'speculative'.
He added his team had been 'taken by surprise' as a local lockdown 'certainly wasn't the terms in which we've been talking'.
A scientist in Nottingham said trying to lock down the city on its own would be fraught with difficulty because it sprawls into neighbouring villages and council boundaries can cut through the middle of a street. Professor Keith Neal said: ' If Leicester is locked down, how much of the surrounding area do you include? A quick view at the satellite picture demonstrates this problem... many [people] would not actually know where they are.'
It comes as one of the Government's top scientific advisers, Sir Jeremy Farrar, this morning warned that England is emerging from its Covid-19 lockdown on a 'knife-edge' and that the situation in the country is 'very precarious'.
New cases being diagnosed in Britain are at a three-month low but the Office for National Statistics this week warned that the speed at which England's outbreak is shrinking has 'levelled off' and there are still estimated to be around 51,000 people in the community infected with the virus.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted that he won't hesitate to bring lockdown rules back if the virus starts to surge again, but has already announced pubs and cafes can reopen from next Saturday, July 4, and said people will be allowed to visit friends and family in small groups without social distancing.
'Wherever there is a local outbreak, whether in Ashfield or Angelsea, we will empower the local authorities to quarantine everyone who has got it, test back to the moment of infection and make the necessary closures,' the PM told the Mail on Sunday.
Concerns about Leicester come after a week which saw huge numbers of people in England abandon social distancing and flock to beaches, street parties and park raves in the scorching summer heat. Police had to try and disperse people from the Dorset Coast, the streets of Liverpool and parks in London amid fears reckless partying could trigger a second wave of Covid-19.
In other coronavirus news:
The Home Secretary said 'air bridges' between the UK and holiday destinations in Europe will not be available straight away and urged people not to get carried away with booking holidays;
One of the Government's top scientific advisers, Sir Jeremy Farrar, said Britain - and England in particular - is 'on a knife-edge' as it eases out of lockdown and that he expects Covid-19 cases to rise within weeks;
Police last night struggled to break up mass parties in London parks as thousands of young people abandoned social distancing rules and met up on Tooting Bec and CrystalHolidays Clapham Common;
Long periods of lockdown may weaken people's immune systems because they don't come into contact with as many bacteria and viruses, a scientist has warned;
One in 10 pubs in Britain will not be able to reopen next Saturday because of the cost of implementing social distancing rules and many may never open their doors again, according to the British Institute of Innkeeping;
Experts have warned about a 'debt bubble' forming in the UK because the coronavirus crisis has left eight million people needing financial help.
The Department of Health has acknowledged concerns about a surge in coronavirus cases in Leicester and urged people living in and visiting the city to be vigilant about social distancing and washing their hands (Pictured: A sign in the city centre)
A Covid-19 testing centre being run by the military is pictured in Spinney Hill Park in Leicester today, June 28, as the city faces the prospect of being cut off from the rest of England over its surging coronavirus infection rate
Testing operations have been scaled up in the city and military-run mobile testing stations set up to help the Government get on top of the area's outbreak (Pictured: Personnel at drive-through testing at Evington Leisure Centre)
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Labour MP for Leicester East, Claudia Webbe, has encouraged the Government to enforce a lockdown in her constituency.
She told Leicestershire Live 'the rate of infections has not been going down' in the area.
'Schools have had to close in Leicester East because of coronavirus; a supermarket had to close,' Ms Webbe said.
'We know the problem is in Leicester East, not spread across the city. People from Leicester East need to be not travelling across the city.
'I don't know how it would work but they have to implement a local lockdown. In my view, we need to go back to the standard of lockdown we had at the beginning.'
Five schools in the city have had to to shut after reporting cases among staff, while workers at two Sainsbury's stores also contracted Covid-19. And there have been outbreaks at sandwich and biscuits factories.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the council and local partners in Leicester to help prevent further transmission of the virus.
'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 to prevent the spread.
'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. This advice is there to protect communities and save lives.'
MP for Leicester East, Claudia Webbe (pictured left), has called for her constiuency to be locked down because 'the rate of infections has not been going down'. Home Secretary Priti Patel (right) said on the Andrew Marr Show this morning: 'With local flare-ups it is right we have a localised solution'
A solider is pictured collecting coronavirus swab tests from a car at a drive-through testing centre in Leicester today
Members of the public wearing face masks are pictured in Leicester city centre today. There are currently no special rules in place in the city, which is reportedly experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases
A group of men play cricket in Spinney Hill Park today in Leicester as lockdown measures are eased across the UK. But the East Midlands city could face stricter lockdown rules if the Covid-19 situation does not come under control
Home Secretary Priti Patel acknowledged on the Andrew Marr show this morning that Leicester was on high alert.
She said: 'We have seen flare-ups across the country in recent weeks, in just the last three or four weeks in particular.
'There will be support going into Leicester and in fact the Health Secretary was in touch with many of us over the weekend explaining some of the measures, the support on testing, resources that will go into the local authority as well.
'With local flare-ups it is right we have a localised solution in terms of infection control, social distancing, testing and many of the tools actually within the Public Health England space which will come together to control the virus, to stop the spread so obviously we can get on top of the infection.'
Concerns about the situation in Leicester come as police were yesterday forced to control traffic chaos in the county as crowds flocked to an annual horse fair in Mountsorrel.
There have reportedly been a surge of more than 600 in cases in just two weeks this month in the East Midlands city, which is home to around 340,000 people. The city had 271 Covid-19 deaths up to June 12. Leicester could face stricter lockdown rules as soon as next week if the Covid-19 situation does not come under control, meaning it could miss out on the mass easing expected for next Saturday, when pubs are set to reopen.
The Department of Health said it has sent extra testing units to Leicester to try and get on top of the virus and urged residents there to be strict about social distancing and washing their hands.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show this morning it was 'correct' that a local lockdown was on the cards, adding: 'With local flare-ups it is right we have a localised solution'.
She added: 'We have seen flare-ups across the country in recent weeks, in just the last three or four weeks in particular.'
The MP for Leicester East, Claudia Webbe, has actively called for her constituency to be locked down and for her constituents to stay home, saying schools and a supermarket have had to close because the virus is out of control there. The Labour slammed the Government's social distancing rules as 'at best confusing'.
However the Mayor of Leicester, Sir Peter Soulsby, said the council is not aware of any immediate plans for an isolated lockdown in the city and that suggestions it was set for next week were 'speculative'.
He added his team had been 'taken by surprise' as a local lockdown 'certainly wasn't the terms in which we've been talking'.
A scientist in Nottingham said trying to lock down the city on its own would be fraught with difficulty because it sprawls into neighbouring villages and council boundaries can cut through the middle of a street. Professor Keith Neal said: ' If Leicester is locked down, how much of the surrounding area do you include? A quick view at the satellite picture demonstrates this problem... many [people] would not actually know where they are.'
It comes as one of the Government's top scientific advisers, Sir Jeremy Farrar, this morning warned that England is emerging from its Covid-19 lockdown on a 'knife-edge' and that the situation in the country is 'very precarious'.
New cases being diagnosed in Britain are at a three-month low but the Office for National Statistics this week warned that the speed at which England's outbreak is shrinking has 'levelled off' and there are still estimated to be around 51,000 people in the community infected with the virus.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted that he won't hesitate to bring lockdown rules back if the virus starts to surge again, but has already announced pubs and cafes can reopen from next Saturday, July 4, and said people will be allowed to visit friends and family in small groups without social distancing.
'Wherever there is a local outbreak, whether in Ashfield or Angelsea, we will empower the local authorities to quarantine everyone who has got it, test back to the moment of infection and make the necessary closures,' the PM told the Mail on Sunday.
Concerns about Leicester come after a week which saw huge numbers of people in England abandon social distancing and flock to beaches, street parties and park raves in the scorching summer heat. Police had to try and disperse people from the Dorset Coast, the streets of Liverpool and parks in London amid fears reckless partying could trigger a second wave of Covid-19.
In other coronavirus news:
The Home Secretary said 'air bridges' between the UK and holiday destinations in Europe will not be available straight away and urged people not to get carried away with booking holidays;
One of the Government's top scientific advisers, Sir Jeremy Farrar, said Britain - and England in particular - is 'on a knife-edge' as it eases out of lockdown and that he expects Covid-19 cases to rise within weeks;
Police last night struggled to break up mass parties in London parks as thousands of young people abandoned social distancing rules and met up on Tooting Bec and CrystalHolidays Clapham Common;
Long periods of lockdown may weaken people's immune systems because they don't come into contact with as many bacteria and viruses, a scientist has warned;
One in 10 pubs in Britain will not be able to reopen next Saturday because of the cost of implementing social distancing rules and many may never open their doors again, according to the British Institute of Innkeeping;
Experts have warned about a 'debt bubble' forming in the UK because the coronavirus crisis has left eight million people needing financial help.
The Department of Health has acknowledged concerns about a surge in coronavirus cases in Leicester and urged people living in and visiting the city to be vigilant about social distancing and washing their hands (Pictured: A sign in the city centre)
A Covid-19 testing centre being run by the military is pictured in Spinney Hill Park in Leicester today, June 28, as the city faces the prospect of being cut off from the rest of England over its surging coronavirus infection rate
Testing operations have been scaled up in the city and military-run mobile testing stations set up to help the Government get on top of the area's outbreak (Pictured: Personnel at drive-through testing at Evington Leisure Centre)
more videos
1
2
3
Watch video Countryfile report on BAME community 'feeling unwelcome' in countryside
Watch video Thug pushes man into canal after he tells-off woman for kicking swan
Watch video Shocking moment thugs attack defenceless man during robbery
Watch video Hungry seagull swallows huge rat in front of stunned onlookers
Watch video Laurence Fox claims there's an 'concerted drive' to keep him quiet
Watch video Piers Morgan says Kate Garraway is 'living in hope' for husband Derek
Watch video White Island survivor shows off inspirational recovery
Watch video Witness describes deadly shooting inside Seattle's CHOP
Watch video BLM protesters surround Fox News reporter after alleged assault
Watch video Huge crowds gather in Birmingham to see YouTuber Canking
Watch video Cat panics after it steps on piano keys in hilarious video
Watch video Mob of white individuals attack a car with black family inside
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Previous
1
2
Next
More than 100 cruise ships in U.S. waters were carrying... M&S and John Lewis fight over Captain Tom Moore: Retailers... Australian surfing champion Jack Robinson, 22, marries...
Victoria records 49 new COVID-19 cases in worst spike in...
Share this article
Share
Labour MP for Leicester East, Claudia Webbe, has encouraged the Government to enforce a lockdown in her constituency.
She told Leicestershire Live 'the rate of infections has not been going down' in the area.
'Schools have had to close in Leicester East because of coronavirus; a supermarket had to close,' Ms Webbe said.
'We know the problem is in Leicester East, not spread across the city. People from Leicester East need to be not travelling across the city.
'I don't know how it would work but they have to implement a local lockdown. In my view, we need to go back to the standard of lockdown we had at the beginning.'
Five schools in the city have had to to shut after reporting cases among staff, while workers at two Sainsbury's stores also contracted Covid-19. And there have been outbreaks at sandwich and biscuits factories.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the council and local partners in Leicester to help prevent further transmission of the virus.
'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 to prevent the spread.
'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. This advice is there to protect communities and save lives.'
MP for Leicester East, Claudia Webbe (pictured left), has called for her constiuency to be locked down because 'the rate of infections has not been going down'. Home Secretary Priti Patel (right) said on the Andrew Marr Show this morning: 'With local flare-ups it is right we have a localised solution'
A solider is pictured collecting coronavirus swab tests from a car at a drive-through testing centre in Leicester today
Members of the public wearing face masks are pictured in Leicester city centre today. There are currently no special rules in place in the city, which is reportedly experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases
A group of men play cricket in Spinney Hill Park today in Leicester as lockdown measures are eased across the UK. But the East Midlands city could face stricter lockdown rules if the Covid-19 situation does not come under control
Home Secretary Priti Patel acknowledged on the Andrew Marr show this morning that Leicester was on high alert.
She said: 'We have seen flare-ups across the country in recent weeks, in just the last three or four weeks in particular.
'There will be support going into Leicester and in fact the Health Secretary was in touch with many of us over the weekend explaining some of the measures, the support on testing, resources that will go into the local authority as well.
'With local flare-ups it is right we have a localised solution in terms of infection control, social distancing, testing and many of the tools actually within the Public Health England space which will come together to control the virus, to stop the spread so obviously we can get on top of the infection.'
Concerns about the situation in Leicester come as police were yesterday forced to control traffic chaos in the county as crowds flocked to an annual horse fair in Mountsorrel.
