From UKGov/
Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington and Halton escalated to areas of intervention, with new restrictions in Wolverhampton, Oadby and Wigston, and parts of Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale.Published 18 September 2020From:Department of Health and Social Care
- Further restrictions introduced across parts of north west, midlands and West Yorkshire to curb rising infection rates, agreed in collaboration with local leaders
- Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington and Halton escalated to areas of intervention, with new restrictions in Wolverhampton, Oadby and Wigston, and parts of Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale
- Regulations and guidance to come into force from Tuesday
In close discussions with local leaders, the Health and Social Care Secretary, NHS Test and Trace, the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC), and the Chief Medical Officer for England have agreed to introduce local measures in several parts of the north and midlands.
This follows major increases in COVID-19 cases in large areas of the north west, Yorkshire and small parts of the midlands which mean the following restrictions must be urgently brought in to clamp down on infections.
North west
In Merseyside, Warrington, Halton and Lancashire (excluding Blackpool and Greater Manchester), regulations will enforce the following restrictions from Tuesday 22 September:
- residents must not socialise with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens
- hospitality for food and drink will be restricted to table service only
- late night operating hours will be restricted, with leisure and entertainment venues including restaurants, pubs, and cinemas, required to close between 10pm to 5am
Residents are also advised to adhere to the following guidance to further reduce rates of infection:
- only to use public transport for essential purposes, such as travelling to school or work
- avoid attending amateur and semi-professional sporting events as spectators
The above does not apply to Bolton or Greater Manchester where separate restrictions are already in place.
Individuals who are shielding in parts of north-east Blackburn (8 wards are under local restrictions) will no longer need to from 5 October, bringing these wards into line with the rest of Blackburn with Darwen where shielding is already due to pause from 21 September.
Midlands
In Wolverhampton and Oadby and Wigston residents will be banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens from 22 September.
Individuals who are shielding in Leicester City will no longer need to from 5 October.
West Yorkshire
All parts of Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale, will now be banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens, from 22 September. Some wards in these areas had been exempt from restrictions on gatherings introduced at the start of August, but these wards will now also be subject to the ban.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
We are seeing cases of coronavirus rise fast in Lancashire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Warrington, Halton and Wolverhampton. Local leaders in these areas have asked for stronger restrictions to be put in place to protect local people, and we are acting decisively to support them.