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Coronavirus: How would a local lockdown work in Leicester? Coronavirus: How will local lockdowns work?
(1 day later)
Leicester could be kept in the current stage of lockdown for another two weeks, because of a local surge in coronavirus cases. The UK's first local lockdown has been introduced in Leicester, following a spike in coronavirus cases.
That means pubs and restaurants would remain closed when they open in the rest of England from Saturday, and social distancing guidelines would stay at 2m (6ft). How will they be enforced and how could they be used elsewhere?
But local politicians say it is unclear how restrictions can still be maintained in one area. What could local lockdowns be like?
What's meant by 'local lockdown'? In Leicester, it will be similar to going back to the UK-wide lockdown introduced at the end of March.
Restrictions, or lockdowns, could be used in specific areas in England to counter localised coronavirus "flare-ups". Residents will have to stay at home as much as they can, while people in other parts of England will have more freedom.
The Joint Biosecurity Centre, which advises the government on the Covid alert level, will work with local health teams "to address local spikes in infections". The reopening of pubs and restaurants, and the relaxation of social distancing across England on 4 July to "one metre plus", will not apply.
It is unclear whether a lockdown would focus only on the exact location of an outbreak - like a school, care home or workplace - or would cover a whole area, such as a postcode, a town, or even a city. Non-essential travel to, from and within Leicester should be avoided, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.
Councils already have the power to lock down a premises if it presents a health hazard. But the government has also hinted at the idea of locking down a whole city. But a future lockdown in another place might not be so tough. It will depend on the nature of the coronavirus spike.
However, local politicians say they do not have the powers to enforce such measures, and have asked for more clarity. "It might be closing schools again if the increase is only seen in children and teachers," says Dr Nathalie McDermott, clinical lecturer in infectious diseases at King's College London.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said further guidance on containing such outbreaks would be published "shortly". "Or it might be not opening restaurants and bars because you're concerned about the direction the trend is going in."
What could happen? Why are Leicester and its suburbs in lockdown?
Recent outbreaks have occurred in the UK: Mr Hancock told the Commons on Monday the city had "10% of all positive cases in the country over the past week".
The meat factories were closed, with all staff told to self-isolate and get tested. In Cleckheaton, those deemed healthy enough were later allowed to return. Leicester's seven-day infection rate of 135 cases per 100,000 people was "three times higher than the next highest city". Admissions to hospital were between six and 10 per day - compared to about one a day elsewhere.
Councils say the plan would be similar for schools. If enough cases were detected, a school could be closed and all staff and pupils could self-isolate for 14 days. Its local lockdown will be reviewed in two weeks.
Risk assessments could be carried out afterwards to decide when a premises might be reopened. Could offices, factories or schools be closed instead?
Public health officials have also suggested people in affected areas might receive council leaflets or be visited by local health workers or politicians to spread awareness. The city-wide lockdown was brought in because "targeted action" had not worked, Mr Hancock said.
Local lockdowns could also mean more widespread testing, according to Krishna Ramkhelawon, director of public health for Southend-on-Sea Council: "The most important thing would be to define the scope of an outbreak, and possibly test everyone in an area." When many Covid-19 cases are found in one place like a hospital, factory or school, this is called a cluster. They can be dealt with by local directors of public health, often by closing the premises.
What's happening in Leicester? There have already been clusters in several parts of the UK:
The city has seen a recent rise in positive cases of coronavirus. When different clusters are found to be linked, this is defined as an outbreak.
In the two weeks to 23 June, there were 866 positive cases in the city - 29% of the 2,987 who have tested positive since the pandemic began. Who decides when a local lockdown is needed?
The cases are thought to be mostly among younger, working-age people living in the east of the city. It depends whether there is a cluster or an outbreak.
The government is now recommending maintaining the current lockdown for two weeks beyond 4 July. A single premises with a coronavirus cluster is likely to be shut down temporarily by the local director of public health and the Health and Safety Executive.
However, the city's mayor has said local officials still do not have the information they need to maintain the lockdown in their area. The owner or occupier will have a legal duty to remain shut.
The Department of Health said there are now four mobile testing units in the city and thousands of home testing kits have been made available. These powers have been used in the past to deal with outbreaks of salmonella or Legionnaires' disease.
Could a whole area be locked down? If there is evidence of a bigger coronavirus outbreak in a town, city or region, a number of organisations gather to decide what to do next.
Local councils say they do not currently have the power to do this. These local alerts can be flagged to England's chief medical officer who can, in turn, advise a minister to use existing emergency powers to control the outbreak. This could mean introducing legislation which doesn't have to be voted on in Parliament.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has said he "struggles to see how it can be effectively enforced". What are the coronavirus laws for Leicester?
He added that singling out a particular area for restrictions would also cause tensions. The government is yet to publish the new laws for Leicester.
Short of barricading the streets, councils say they are not sure how they could enforce heavy restrictions such as travel bans in any single place. As of Tuesday lunchtime, its director of public health, Ivan Browne, said he hadn't seen the government's plan for his city.
"They're producing a statutory instrument [ministerial order] on what we can and can't do," he said.
Can police enforce the lockdown?
Police say they are unsure how they are expected to enforce the lockdown in Leicester.
They have asked for more clarification from the government on what the public can and can't do.
Dave Stokes, Chairman of the Leicestershire Police Federation, said: "If the guidance and messaging from government is confusing for the public then it will be almost impossible for our colleagues to police."
Have other countries tried local lockdowns?Have other countries tried local lockdowns?
In Germany, local authorities have the power to vary the level of restrictions in individual states, and a number of small lockdowns have been imposed recently.In Germany, local authorities have the power to vary the level of restrictions in individual states, and a number of small lockdowns have been imposed recently.
On 23 June the state of North Rhine-Westphalia reimposed lockdown measures in two districts, after a spike in infections connected to a meat processing plant. Bars, museums, cinemas and gyms were closed, stricter social distancing was reintroduced, and local residents were asked "not to travel to other districts". One has also been enforced in parts of China's capital, Beijing after a recent outbreak.
However, there has been resistance to this approach. In Gottingen, police had to enforce quarantine on a tower block where 120 residents had tested positive.
Meanwhile in China, following a recent outbreak in Beijing, a local lockdown has been enforced in parts of the city.
People in medium or high-risk areas cannot leave their neighbourhood, rail and flight services have been cut, and schools, swimming pools and gyms closed.
What has been said about the rest of the UK?What has been said about the rest of the UK?
Public Health Wales said that a local lockdown was under consideration after the recent outbreak in Anglesey. However, First Minister Mark Drakeford said that any decision would be not be taken lightly.Public Health Wales said that a local lockdown was under consideration after the recent outbreak in Anglesey. However, First Minister Mark Drakeford said that any decision would be not be taken lightly.
The Scottish government - for which public health teams work for the NHS, rather than councils - says it is developing a "responsive system of community surveillance" at a national, regional and local level to identify outbreaks quickly.The Scottish government - for which public health teams work for the NHS, rather than councils - says it is developing a "responsive system of community surveillance" at a national, regional and local level to identify outbreaks quickly.
In Northern Ireland, the government says that any potential clusters or outbreaks will be handled using "appropriate infection control" in line with its normal guidelines for handling an outbreak of a disease.In Northern Ireland, the government says that any potential clusters or outbreaks will be handled using "appropriate infection control" in line with its normal guidelines for handling an outbreak of a disease.
Additional Reporting by: Ben Butcher and the Local Democracy Reporter Service