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Coronavirus: Visiting people at home banned in northern England Coronavirus: Visiting people at home banned in parts of northern England
(about 1 hour later)
Separate households have been banned from meeting each other indoors in Greater Manchester, east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire following a spike in coronavirus cases. Millions of people across northern England are now facing new lockdown restrictions, which ban separate households from meeting each other at home after a spike in Covid-19 cases.
The health secretary said the increase in transmission was "largely due" to people not observing social distancing. The new rules impact people in Greater Manchester, east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire.
More than four million people will be affected by the tighter restrictions. The health secretary told the BBC the increase in transmission was due to people visiting friends and relatives.
Labour criticised the government for a lack of clarity over the measures and for announcing them "late at night". Labour criticised the government over the timing of the announcement.
More details were published two hours after the initial announcement. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast the government had taken "targeted" action based on information gathered from contact tracing, which he said showed that "most of the transmission is happening between households visiting each other, and people visiting relatives and friends".
The government acknowledged the measures would "come as a blow" to Muslim communities preparing to celebrate Eid this weekend, although places of worship remain open subject to social distancing rules.
The new local lockdown rules, which came into force at midnight, come nearly four weeks after restrictions were eased across England, allowing people to meet indoors for the first time since late March.
The government published further guidance on the changes on Friday morning.
The measures mean different households will not be allowed to meet in homes or private gardens. Individual households will still be able to go to pubs and restaurants but not mix with another household.The measures mean different households will not be allowed to meet in homes or private gardens. Individual households will still be able to go to pubs and restaurants but not mix with another household.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, also said the same restrictions would apply in Leicester, where a local lockdown has been in place for the last month. The government acknowledged the measures would "come as a blow" to Muslim communities preparing to celebrate Eid this weekend, although places of worship remain open subject to social distancing rules.
The new lockdown rules came into force at midnight, within hours of the initial announcement. The restrictions come nearly four weeks after restrictions were eased across England, allowing people to meet indoors for the first time since late March.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the move but criticised the way it was handled, saying announcing measures "affecting potentially millions of people late at night on Twitter is a new low for the government's communications during this crisis".
Mr Hancock tweeted the announcement at 21:16 BST on Thursday. The government published more details two hours later, and then released further guidance on the changes on Friday morning.
The same restrictions will apply in Leicester, where a local lockdown has been in place for the last month, the health secretary said.
However, pubs, restaurants and other facilities will be allowed to reopen in the city from Monday, as some of the stricter measures are lifted.However, pubs, restaurants and other facilities will be allowed to reopen in the city from Monday, as some of the stricter measures are lifted.
Mr Hancock, who tweeted the announcement at 21:16 BST on Thursday, said: "The spread is largely due to households meeting and not abiding to social distancing. So from midnight tonight, people from different households will not be allowed to meet each other indoors in these areas.
"We take this action with a heavy heart, but we can see increasing rates of Covid across Europe and are determined to do whatever is necessary to keep people safe."
The government said it would give police forces and councils powers to enforce the new rules - adding some exemptions would be put in place, including for the vulnerable.The government said it would give police forces and councils powers to enforce the new rules - adding some exemptions would be put in place, including for the vulnerable.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the move but criticised the way it was handled, saying announcing measures "affecting potentially millions of people late at night on Twitter is a new low for the government's communications during this crisis".
He added: "When the government ended the daily press conferences, they said they would hold them for 'significant announcements', including local lockdowns. It's hard to imagine what could be more significant than this."
The latest announcement in detail:The latest announcement in detail:
The government always warned it would slam on the brakes if it had to.The government always warned it would slam on the brakes if it had to.
Now it has - on an unprecedented scale, with two-and-a-half hours notice.Now it has - on an unprecedented scale, with two-and-a-half hours notice.
Liberties recently returned, almost instantly snatched away.Liberties recently returned, almost instantly snatched away.
And snatched with a rebuke from the health secretary for England - Matt Hancock - who repeatedly said this was necessary because some in the areas affected had failed to stick to social distancing rules.And snatched with a rebuke from the health secretary for England - Matt Hancock - who repeatedly said this was necessary because some in the areas affected had failed to stick to social distancing rules.
I'm told the change comes without a time limit, but will be reviewed every week.I'm told the change comes without a time limit, but will be reviewed every week.
And don't be surprised if the government, from the prime minister down, make the case that this could happen elsewhere too if people are cavalier about the rules.And don't be surprised if the government, from the prime minister down, make the case that this could happen elsewhere too if people are cavalier about the rules.
And yet, in Leicester, the local, more severe restrictions imposed there are to be eased. The baby steps back towards normality are going to be hesitant and faltering; messy in their detail and messy in their geography.And yet, in Leicester, the local, more severe restrictions imposed there are to be eased. The baby steps back towards normality are going to be hesitant and faltering; messy in their detail and messy in their geography.
The virus has robbed us of many things.The virus has robbed us of many things.
It continues to rob us of any certainty.It continues to rob us of any certainty.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester - an area with a population of about 2.8 million - said he agreed with the decision as there had been a "marked change in the picture" with regard to the spread of Covid-19 in the area.Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester - an area with a population of about 2.8 million - said he agreed with the decision as there had been a "marked change in the picture" with regard to the spread of Covid-19 in the area.
"We have gone from a falling rate of cases in nearly all of our boroughs last week to a rising rate in nine out of 10 affecting communities across a much wider geography," he said. "In Rochdale, the one borough where cases have fallen, they are still too high.""We have gone from a falling rate of cases in nearly all of our boroughs last week to a rising rate in nine out of 10 affecting communities across a much wider geography," he said. "In Rochdale, the one borough where cases have fallen, they are still too high."
He said all residents "young and old alike" should "protect each other" by observing the requirements, which will be reviewed weekly.He said all residents "young and old alike" should "protect each other" by observing the requirements, which will be reviewed weekly.
This means "the more we stick to them, the quicker they will be removed", he said.This means "the more we stick to them, the quicker they will be removed", he said.
Some local Conservative MPs questioned the government's decision to apply the measures to the whole of Greater Manchester, which includes 10 local authority areas - Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.Some local Conservative MPs questioned the government's decision to apply the measures to the whole of Greater Manchester, which includes 10 local authority areas - Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
William Wragg, MP for Hazel Grove in Stockport, tweeted that Greater Manchester was "not one homogeneous area" and treating all 10 boroughs the same was "not the right approach".William Wragg, MP for Hazel Grove in Stockport, tweeted that Greater Manchester was "not one homogeneous area" and treating all 10 boroughs the same was "not the right approach".
His view was supported by Graham Brady, MP for Altrincham and Sale West, who added that the "latest update for Trafford says 'infections continue to be at a low level'".His view was supported by Graham Brady, MP for Altrincham and Sale West, who added that the "latest update for Trafford says 'infections continue to be at a low level'".
In Trafford, latest figures show the seven-day infection rate of Covid-19 was 38 cases per 100,000 people in the week ending 26 July. The average in England was five.In Trafford, latest figures show the seven-day infection rate of Covid-19 was 38 cases per 100,000 people in the week ending 26 July. The average in England was five.
Jonathan Reynolds, shadow secretary for work and pensions and an MP in the Greater Manchester area, said the figures were showing an increase in infections including in Tameside where positive tests per 100,000 population has gone from 4.9 to 16.3.Jonathan Reynolds, shadow secretary for work and pensions and an MP in the Greater Manchester area, said the figures were showing an increase in infections including in Tameside where positive tests per 100,000 population has gone from 4.9 to 16.3.
Leicester introduced a strict local lockdown at the beginning of July because the city's seven-day infection rate had risen to 135 cases per 100,000 people. It has since fallen to 58 and the lockdown was lifted for some suburbs of the city.Leicester introduced a strict local lockdown at the beginning of July because the city's seven-day infection rate had risen to 135 cases per 100,000 people. It has since fallen to 58 and the lockdown was lifted for some suburbs of the city.
Blackburn and Darwen had the highest seven-day infection rate out of the 19 local authority areas affected by the new announcement, with 91 cases per 100,000.Blackburn and Darwen had the highest seven-day infection rate out of the 19 local authority areas affected by the new announcement, with 91 cases per 100,000.
The current rules for the rest of England allow two households - up to a maximum of 30 people - to meet indoors.The current rules for the rest of England allow two households - up to a maximum of 30 people - to meet indoors.
In Wales, indoor meetings between different households are still not allowed, but two households of any size can join up in an "extended household".In Wales, indoor meetings between different households are still not allowed, but two households of any size can join up in an "extended household".
In Northern Ireland, groups of up to 10 people from four different households can meet indoors, while in Scotland, up to eight people from three different households can meet indoors.In Northern Ireland, groups of up to 10 people from four different households can meet indoors, while in Scotland, up to eight people from three different households can meet indoors.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the decision to ban households in parts of northern England from meeting indoors was the "right" one, adding: "This is a sharp reminder that the threat of this virus is still very real."Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the decision to ban households in parts of northern England from meeting indoors was the "right" one, adding: "This is a sharp reminder that the threat of this virus is still very real."
Miqdaad Versi, from the Muslim Council of Britain, said the restrictions were likely to have a "large impact" on Muslim families celebrating Eid.Miqdaad Versi, from the Muslim Council of Britain, said the restrictions were likely to have a "large impact" on Muslim families celebrating Eid.
"Unclear why such short notice provided but important that this message is cascaded as quickly as possible," he tweeted."Unclear why such short notice provided but important that this message is cascaded as quickly as possible," he tweeted.
On Thursday, a further 38 people in the UK died, bringing the total number of Covid-19 associated deaths to 45,999.On Thursday, a further 38 people in the UK died, bringing the total number of Covid-19 associated deaths to 45,999.
And 846 cases were reported - the highest number of cases in a day for a month.And 846 cases were reported - the highest number of cases in a day for a month.
In other developments:In other developments: