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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tougher Covid rules for millions in north-west England and Yorkshire | Tougher Covid rules for millions in north-west England and Yorkshire |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| New measures include ban on mixing with other families and nightlife curfew from Tuesday | New measures include ban on mixing with other families and nightlife curfew from Tuesday |
| Millions of people across parts of north-west England and Yorkshire will be banned from mixing with other families under tougher restrictions announced to control the spread of coronavirus. | |
| The measures, which will come into force on Tuesday, will prohibit residents in Lancashire, Merseyside, and parts of West Yorkshire, the West Midlands and Cheshire, from meeting others outside their support bubbles, and include a 10pm curfew on nightlife. Blackpool is the only area in the county of Lancashire to be exempted from the restrictions. | The measures, which will come into force on Tuesday, will prohibit residents in Lancashire, Merseyside, and parts of West Yorkshire, the West Midlands and Cheshire, from meeting others outside their support bubbles, and include a 10pm curfew on nightlife. Blackpool is the only area in the county of Lancashire to be exempted from the restrictions. |
| People in affected areas have been told to only use public transport for essential purposes, such as travelling to school or work, and avoid attending amateur or semi-professional sports events as spectators. Residents should also take holidays only with people in their own household or support bubble. | |
| The new rules do not apply to Bolton or Greater Manchester, where separate restrictions are already in place. | |
| The announcement comes as large parts of the country experienced a sudden spike in cases, and follows new lockdown restrictions imposed in the north-east of England. | The announcement comes as large parts of the country experienced a sudden spike in cases, and follows new lockdown restrictions imposed in the north-east of England. |
| Local politicians and leaders were told of the stricter measures by the government during a meeting on Thursday. | Local politicians and leaders were told of the stricter measures by the government during a meeting on Thursday. |
| The health and social care secretary, Matt Hancock, said local leaders had urged the government to bring in stronger restrictions to protect the public. | The health and social care secretary, Matt Hancock, said local leaders had urged the government to bring in stronger restrictions to protect the public. |
| “We are acting decisively to support them,” he said. “I know these restrictions will make everyday life harder for many, but I know that residents will work together and respect the rules so we can reduce rates of transmission. | “We are acting decisively to support them,” he said. “I know these restrictions will make everyday life harder for many, but I know that residents will work together and respect the rules so we can reduce rates of transmission. |
| “I urge local people to isolate and get a test if you have symptoms, follow the advice of NHS test and trace, and always remember ‘hands, face, space’. By sticking to these steps, we will get through this together.” | “I urge local people to isolate and get a test if you have symptoms, follow the advice of NHS test and trace, and always remember ‘hands, face, space’. By sticking to these steps, we will get through this together.” |
| More than 10 million people across the UK are living under local restrictions, covering parts of Scotland, south Wales, the north-west and north-east of England, Yorkshire and the Midlands. | More than 10 million people across the UK are living under local restrictions, covering parts of Scotland, south Wales, the north-west and north-east of England, Yorkshire and the Midlands. |
| Preston’s Labour and Co-op MP, Mark Hendrick, said that although he thought the new measures would come as an “extra blow” to people in the city, they were necessary. | Preston’s Labour and Co-op MP, Mark Hendrick, said that although he thought the new measures would come as an “extra blow” to people in the city, they were necessary. |
| “We’ve also got thousands of students coming back this week. With freshers’ week on the horizon, obviously there’ll be the temptation for many to celebrate,” he said. | “We’ve also got thousands of students coming back this week. With freshers’ week on the horizon, obviously there’ll be the temptation for many to celebrate,” he said. |
| “That’s going to bring thousands of students from other parts of the country to Preston. The worry is that without these measures that escalation could be even worse than it’s going to be.” | “That’s going to bring thousands of students from other parts of the country to Preston. The worry is that without these measures that escalation could be even worse than it’s going to be.” |
| However, he added that constantly changing measures in the area was “like trying to shift sand in terms of the message we’re trying to get over”. | However, he added that constantly changing measures in the area was “like trying to shift sand in terms of the message we’re trying to get over”. |
| Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Lancashire’s director of public health, said the state of emergency was declared in the area after daily cases began to double, from 75 cases on the 6 September to 144 on the 14 September. | Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Lancashire’s director of public health, said the state of emergency was declared in the area after daily cases began to double, from 75 cases on the 6 September to 144 on the 14 September. |
| In Lancashire, positive cases have mainly been among the 15-44 age group with concerns this could spill over into older and vulnerable groups.“The situation really is that stark. If we don’t act now we could be facing another lockdown,” she added. | |
| While the new measures have received broad support, some Labour MPs have called for improved communication and testing. | While the new measures have received broad support, some Labour MPs have called for improved communication and testing. |
| The deepening problems of the testing system were highlighted earlier this week with a jump in coronavirus cases and the return of schools leading to an increased testing demand. | The deepening problems of the testing system were highlighted earlier this week with a jump in coronavirus cases and the return of schools leading to an increased testing demand. |
| Following days of rising public anger at the difficulty of getting tests – even for sick people with Covid symptoms – Hancock told parliament there were “operational challenges” and said problems could take weeks to resolve. | Following days of rising public anger at the difficulty of getting tests – even for sick people with Covid symptoms – Hancock told parliament there were “operational challenges” and said problems could take weeks to resolve. |
| Kate Hollern, MP for Blackburn, described the system as being “near collapse” and called on the government for urgent action. | Kate Hollern, MP for Blackburn, described the system as being “near collapse” and called on the government for urgent action. |
| “Throughout the pandemic ministers have been too slow too often, and mixed messages have caused confusion and contributed to a rise in infections. | “Throughout the pandemic ministers have been too slow too often, and mixed messages have caused confusion and contributed to a rise in infections. |
| “The testing system is near collapse, with people forced to travel miles across the country. To maintain public confidence and tackle the virus, the government must urgently fix test and trace.” | “The testing system is near collapse, with people forced to travel miles across the country. To maintain public confidence and tackle the virus, the government must urgently fix test and trace.” |
| Meanwhile, in a joint cross party letter the government was urged to increase local funding to alleviate the issues with the test-and- trace system. | |
| The letter, signed by five MPs and ten local authority leaders representing seats across Lancashire, said issues with the test-and-trace programme were severely hampering the ability to control the virus in the area, with Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley,Preston, Rossendale, Hyndburn, Pendle, Oldham and Bolton, most at risk. | |
| “As elected representatives across Lancashire, we cannot impress strongly enough upon you how important it is that local authorities have the resources and support they need to play their role in protecting public health,” the MPs and local leaders said. “What additional resources do you intend to provide to local authorities in order to allow them to target measures to reduce the infection rate?” | |
| The letter was sent by the Labour MP, Hollern, and signed by her colleague Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood and Rossendale and Darwen Conservative MP, Jake Berry. |