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Coronavirus: How does lockdown work in Leicester and on a Herefordshire farm? Coronavirus: What closes in a local lockdown?
(2 days later)
A Herefordshire farm joined the list of places put under a local lockdown, at the weekend. From Saturday, efforts to contain coronavirus will focus on local lockdowns.
Meanwhile, Leicester remains under a city-wide lockdown - the first of its kind in the UK. Local authorities are being given new powers to stop people gathering, while the government will be able to impose ''stay at home'' orders.
So, what is a local lockdown and how are they put in place? What does a local lockdown look like?
What kind of places could have a local lockdown? Prime Minister Boris Johnson said coronavirus can now be controlled "through targeted local action", because more is known about how and where it is spreading.
It could be anywhere - from a hospital, factory, school or one business in a building - to a whole city. Local lockdowns could take place anywhere - from a hospital, factory, school or one business in a building - to a whole city.
Local authorities will be given powers to:
Next week, details of how the government will be able to enforce local restrictions will be published.
Ministers will have the power to:
Which areas have had local lockdowns so far?
How are places with lots of cases identified?How are places with lots of cases identified?
The government's strategy is to have targeted responses to local clusters or outbreaks. The government's strategy is to target local clusters or outbreaks.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says "targeted action" is being taken against more than 100 local outbreaks of coronavirus in England every week. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said action is being taken against more than 100 local outbreaks of coronavirus in England every week.
A cluster is a group of cases in one place like a hospital, factory or school. When clusters are linked, this is defined as an outbreak. A cluster is a group of cases in one place like a hospital, factory or school. When clusters are linked, this is called an outbreak.
The government uses data of numbers of cases in a particular place to help decide what action should be taken. The government uses data of numbers of cases in a particular place to help decide what action should be taken. More cases are now being identified through testing.
The government says that more cases are now being identified through testing.
England has more than 250 testing centres, and a dozen walk-in centres are being set up.England has more than 250 testing centres, and a dozen walk-in centres are being set up.
If a cluster or outbreak occurs, as well as closing buildings and premises, extra testing equipment, including mobile units, is sent to the affected area. Door-to-door testing may also take place. If a cluster or outbreak occurs, extra testing equipment, including mobile units, is sent to the affected area. Door-to-door testing may also take place.
Who decides when a local lockdown is needed? What has Leicester's local lockdown involved?
A single premises with a cluster is likely to be closed temporarily by the local director of public health and the Health and Safety Executive, and must legally remain shut.
These powers have been used previously to deal with salmonella or Legionnaires' disease outbreaks.
Several organisations decide the response to deal with an outbreak over a wider area.
England's chief medical officer can advise a minister to use existing emergency powers, which could mean introducing legislation which doesn't need voting on in Parliament.
Local authorities can now access postcode-level data of cases for the first time, which shows extremely localised test results.
What does Leicester's local lockdown involve?
While some restrictions have been eased in England since 4 July, in Leicester:While some restrictions have been eased in England since 4 July, in Leicester:
Residents also have to stay at home as much as they can, and non-essential travel to, from and within Leicester should also be avoided.Residents also have to stay at home as much as they can, and non-essential travel to, from and within Leicester should also be avoided.
People or businesses that repeatedly flout the new law could receive fines of up to £3,200.People or businesses that repeatedly flout the new law could receive fines of up to £3,200.
At the time the lockdown was imposed, Leicester's seven-day infection rate was "three times higher than the next highest city". At the time the lockdown was imposed, Leicester's seven-day infection rate was "three times higher than the next highest city". They have since fallen.
The latest figures, released last Saturday, showed its rates had gone down slightly but had not fallen steadily.
Government chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tam said the city was "really quite an outlier" compared with anywhere else in the country.
A review of the lockdown is expected this Saturday. Prof Van-Tam is not involved, but said he expected "a phased approach" to any decision to ease restrictions.
Can police enforce a lockdown?Can police enforce a lockdown?
Police have powers to enforce local lockdown. For example, if they believe that somebody is staying away overnight, they can tell them to return home.Police have powers to enforce local lockdown. For example, if they believe that somebody is staying away overnight, they can tell them to return home.
Police can also fine people for breaking the rules, and they may also issue a "prohibition notice" directing somebody not to do something.Police can also fine people for breaking the rules, and they may also issue a "prohibition notice" directing somebody not to do something.
But if a Leicester family wants to go clothes shopping in Nottingham, for example, there is nothing legally to stop them.But if a Leicester family wants to go clothes shopping in Nottingham, for example, there is nothing legally to stop them.
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.
In Scotland, public health teams work for the NHS, rather than councils, and the Scottish Government says it is developing a "responsive system of community surveillance" at a national, regional and local level to identify outbreaks quickly.In Scotland, public health teams work for the NHS, rather than councils, and the Scottish Government 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 the outbreak of any 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 the outbreak of any disease.