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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Leicester lockdown measures eased after cases drop | Leicester lockdown measures eased after cases drop |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A stricter lockdown in Leicester will be eased after a drop in coronavirus cases, Matt Hancock has said. | A stricter lockdown in Leicester will be eased after a drop in coronavirus cases, Matt Hancock has said. |
| The health secretary told the House of Commons some restrictions would be lifted from 24 July "but not all" following a prolonged lockdown. | The health secretary told the House of Commons some restrictions would be lifted from 24 July "but not all" following a prolonged lockdown. |
| The city remained under strict measures from 29 June after a spike in cases. | The city remained under strict measures from 29 June after a spike in cases. |
| Restrictions on schools and nurseries will be lifted but bars remain closed as virus rates "still remain well above the national average", Mr Hancock said. | Restrictions on schools and nurseries will be lifted but bars remain closed as virus rates "still remain well above the national average", Mr Hancock said. |
| The secretary of state said the latest data showed the seven-day infection rate in Leicester was now 119 cases per 100,000 people - down from 135 when the prolonged lockdown was announced. | |
| A new local power will be used to close shops selling non-essential items where necessary. | |
| Bars and restaurants in the city will still not be allowed to open and the ban on non-essential travel and social gatherings of more six people for example will remain in force. | |
| Despite announcing schools could reopen, those run by the city and county council have already closed for the summer. | |
| Mr Hancock said: "Some say that the local lockdown is unnecessary. | Mr Hancock said: "Some say that the local lockdown is unnecessary. |
| "I wish this were true, but sadly it remains vital for the health of everyone in Leicester and the rest of the country that these restrictions stay in place. | "I wish this were true, but sadly it remains vital for the health of everyone in Leicester and the rest of the country that these restrictions stay in place. |
| "We will review them again in a fortnight. I hope that this careful easing of restrictions will provide some comfort to people in Leicester and Leicestershire." | "We will review them again in a fortnight. I hope that this careful easing of restrictions will provide some comfort to people in Leicester and Leicestershire." |
| A number of suburbs included in the original lockdown boundary will now be removed, following discussions between the government and the county council. | |
| However, restrictions will remain in the borough of Oadby and Wigston as case numbers are still above the national average. | |
| County council leader Nick Rushton said the timing of the boundary change was yet to be decided. | |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |