When will local lockdowns be reviewed? Latest rules for Bradford, Preston, Kirklees and Manchester - and when they could change
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Parts of Northern England have been placed under local lockdowns following a spike in coronavirus cases in some areas.
The tougher restrictions extend to parts of West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Greater Manchester, with the UK government enforcing the stricter rules on 31 July.
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Hide AdSimilar restrictions have been in place in Leicester since mid-June, while Aberdeen in Scotland was put under lockdown by the Scottish Government on 5 August.
But when could measures be lifted? Here’s everything you need to know.
Which parts of England are under local lockdown?
Since 31 July, parts of West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Greater Manchester have been forced to follow tougher lockdown measures to help contain the spread of coronavirus.
The affected local areas include:
West Yorkshire
- Bradford
- Calderdale
- Kirklees
East Lancashire
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Burnley
- Hyndburn
- Pendle
- Rossendale
Greater Manchester
- City of Manchester
- Trafford
- Stockport
- Oldham
- Bury
- Wigan
- Bolton
- Tameside
- Rochdale
- Salford
Preston was also faced with tightened lockdown restrictions from midnight on 7 August, after 47 new cases were recorded in the space of a week. Different households in the area are currently not allowed to meet indoors.
What measures are in place?
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Hide AdPeople who live in these affected areas are no longer allowed to meet with people who do not live in their household in a private home or garden.
Rules also prevent people from mixing with another household in other indoor public venues, such as pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops and places or worship. This rule does not apply to people who are in a support bubble, as they count as part of their household.
People are still allowed to meet outdoors in public spaces, such as parks, in groups of no larger than six, unless everyone is from two households.
Rules state that people living inside and outside of the affected areas can continue to travel in and out for work, but should not travel outside of their area to meet with people, other than those in their support bubble, in their homes, gardens or indoor public places.
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Hide AdPeople can also still go on holiday outside of their area, but must only do this with people in their household, or who they have formed a support bubble with.
Additionally, in Bradford and Blackburn with Darwen the following premises must remain closed by law:
- indoor gyms
- indoor fitness and dance studios
- indoor sports courts and facilities
- indoor swimming pools, including indoor facilities at water parks
When will lockdown measures be reviewed?
The government last reviewed its local lockdown measures on 13 August, according to the Department of Health, with officials deciding the current restrictions in parts of Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and East Lancashire should continue to remain in place for now.
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Hide AdUnder legislation enforcing the rules, the government must carry out a review of the restrictions every two weeks. As such, the next review is expected to take place on 27 August.
Announcing the continuation of the rules last week, health minister Edward Argar suggested the next review could be sooner, stating: “We will review the measures again next week as part of our ongoing surveillance and monitoring of the latest data.”
Following this, changes to restrictions could be made, with measures possibly tightened or relaxed based on the current rate of infections in the affected areas.