Leeds spared local lockdown but residents warned of 'real possibility' of stricter rules if rates continue to rise

Leeds was spared a so-called local lockdown today, despite speculation that the city could be subject to the same rules as other West Yorkshire areas where social gatherings in private homes have been banned.

Instead the Government will now pump more resources into the city, making it an “area of enhanced support” with extra testing and more direction from Whitehall.

It comes after the infection rate in the city nearly doubled in the space of a week.

Latest statistics showed Leeds had an infection rate of 69.7 per 100,000 people in the week up to September 8, this was up from 35.7 per 100,000 the week before.

This represented a rise in cases from 283 to 553.

And Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake said: “People in Leeds aren’t facing further restrictions this week but this continued rise in rates is still of great concern.”

She added: “What we all do now will make a direct impact on whether we’re able to bring this terrible virus back under control.

“It will also directly affect decisions as to whether Leeds is considered an area that may need further restrictions later this month.

“If levels continue to go up as they are doing this is a real possibility.”

Leeds’ director of public health Victoria Eaton urged residents to stick to guidelines and said: “How we all manage our personal hygiene and behaviour around other people is the only preventative measure we currently have.”

Ms Eaton said on Twitter that rates were particularly “still high in young adults from social contacts”.

Calderdale Council leader Tim Swift added: "With the recent steady reduction in Calderdale’s Covid-19 rates, we had hoped to see the remaining local restrictions lifted today. However, sadly our infection rates are now starting to increase again, like they are across the country."

Sheffield was also added to the Government’s watchlist as an area of concern, and Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis said: “The situation across the country and especially in towns and cities in the North and Midlands is deteriorating, with the number of new cases at times reaching more than 3,000 a day.

“While it’s obviously concerning that Sheffield has been placed on the Government’s coronavirus watchlist, all of our South Yorkshire local authorities have seen their infection rates significantly increase over the past week.”

He said: “Sheffield and much of South Yorkshire is on the precipice, there is a very real risk that we could see a sustained rise in infections which would put at risk the gains we’ve made. We all need to work together to bring us back to safety.”

Elsewhere areas in the West Midlands were made subject to tighter rules today, while in Leicester businesses will be able to reopen from Tuesday next week.

And ahead of a national clampdown on social gatherings on Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “The reinforcement of the nationwide rule of six for social gatherings sends a clear signal to us all - the whole country must continue to stay vigilant and practice social distancing to beat this virus.

“After seeing cases in the West Midlands continue to rise, the decision has been taken in collaboration with local leaders to ban households mixing in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull. We never take these decisions lightly but social gatherings can spread the virus quickly, and we need residents to abide by the new rules to break the chains of transmission.

“Where targeted action has been taken, we are seeing signs of progress, and today’s easements in Leicester are proof that the measures we are putting in place in collaboration with local councils have a positive effect.

“We will not hesitate to take further action if needed, and my appeal to you all is to get a test if you are symptomatic, stay at home if you are required to self-isolate, and to constantly think: hands, face, space. Only then can we avoid further restrictions, and return to a sense of normality”