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| Leicester lockdown: Measures eased after coronavirus cases drop | Leicester lockdown: Measures eased after coronavirus 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. | 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. | 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 will remain in force. | 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 will remain in force. |
| Despite announcing schools can reopen, those run by the city and county council have already closed for the summer. | Despite announcing schools can 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." |
| 'We seem to be forgotten' | |
| Michelle Teale, who has incurable breast cancer, said she was upset the announcement made no mention of people still "shielding" in the city. | |
| In his 29 June announcement, the health secretary said the nationwide relaxation of shielding measures on 6 July would not apply to Leicester. | |
| "Each week that goes by is another week taken away from me," she said. | |
| "Yet again, he [Matt Hancock] never said anything about shielding people. We seem to be the forgotten people. | |
| "We didn't think it was going to be good news, and now we just have to wait." | |
| A number of suburbs included in the original lockdown boundary will now be removed, following discussions between the government and the county council. | 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. | 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 boundary changes would take effect from 24 July. | |
| Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, who earlier suggested restrictions "should be lifted for 90% of the city", expressed disappointment at the latest announcement. | Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, who earlier suggested restrictions "should be lifted for 90% of the city", expressed disappointment at the latest announcement. |
| He said he was "extremely frustrated that a sledgehammer approach is being taken to deal with an issue in a very small part of the city". | He said he was "extremely frustrated that a sledgehammer approach is being taken to deal with an issue in a very small part of the city". |
| Liz Kendall, Labour MP for Leicester West, tweeted that people in the city would be "very disappointed that whilst non-essential retail can now open our hospitality sector can't and travel restrictions still apply". | Liz Kendall, Labour MP for Leicester West, tweeted that people in the city would be "very disappointed that whilst non-essential retail can now open our hospitality sector can't and travel restrictions still apply". |
| 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. |