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Stricter blocking measures have been announced in Leicester as more and more cases of corona viruses occur in the city.
Health Minister Matt Hancock said unnecessary shops will close on Tuesday and schools will close for most students on Thursday.
There will also be no loosening of restrictions on pubs and restaurants in England on Saturday.
Mr. Hancock said Leicester caused “10% of all positive cases in the country in the past week”.
He said to the House of Commons on Monday evening: “We recommend people in Leicester to stay at home as much as possible, and we recommend against all but essential travel to, from and within Leicester.”
The Secretary of State added that the new local measures would remain in effect for at least two weeks, but would be constantly reviewed, and “we will not keep them in place longer than necessary”.
Mr. Hancock said the number of positive coronavirus cases in Leicester was “three times higher than in the next higher city,” and the July 6 easing of the shielding measures – which will allow the clinically weakest to spend more time outdoors – will also do not take place in Leicester.
He said the decision to close non-essential retail stores was based on clinical advice, adding that “children were particularly affected by the local outbreak” and the risk of Covid-19 being transmitted by children is why schools are closed become.
“To be clear, children are at a very, very low risk of suffering from Covid themselves, but we have examined the percentage of children who tested positive and may therefore transmit the disease,” he said.
Five schools in Leicester have closed since early June due to the number of coronavirus cases, and most students will be affected by the larger closings as of Thursday, but children of “critical workers” and those who are classified as vulnerable can continue to participate .
Suburbs of Leicester such as Oadby, Birstall and Glenfield will also be affected, but Mr Hancock said details of the Leicestershire stations covered by the new blocking measures will be released “immediately”.
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The people in Leicester were told to “stay at home as much as possible”.
The Leicester City Council said the new “stricter restrictions” would apply for “at least two weeks” and was working to determine which other parts of Leicestershire would be affected.
The agency said in a statement: “The latest city council figures show that 3,216 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed since the Leicester epidemic, of which 944 have been reported in the past two weeks.
“These numbers include the number of patients and staff who tested positive in hospitals … and positive cases identified in test centers.”
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The Mayor of Leicester, Sir Peter Soulsby, said the government’s measures were “stricter than expected, but we understand the need for decisive action”.
He said: “[The government] are clearly determined to start at the maximum, so to speak, to see how it works, and then perhaps use the learning from it in other areas that I will no doubt be following.
“I can understand it from [the government’s] Perspective – they are completely convinced that the level of transmission of the disease in Leicester is at a higher level than I think the numbers show. “
Leicestershire County Council chairman Nick Rushton said “protecting residents is our primary concern” and added that “it makes sense to tighten restrictions in areas close to the city”.
“I understand that when most of the country reopens, this is disappointing news for residents, school child parents and businesses, but it is crucial that people follow the latest advice.
“Observe social distance, wash your hands, wear a face mask if necessary and get tested if you have symptoms.
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The government will offer “additional funds” to city and district councils to improve communication about the corona virus for the general public
Mr. Hancock said the government had also “agreed additional measures” to combat the Leicester outbreak:
- In addition to mobile test units, a walk-in test center will be opened in the city
- The city and district councils receive “additional funds” to improve communication with the population on Covid-19 in all relevant languages
- The councils will ensure that “support is available to those who need to isolate themselves”.
- At workplaces where “clustering of cases” has occurred, the implementation of strict Covid 19 guidelines is supported
He added that the government was “still investigating the possible reasons for the Leicester outbreak.”
Blake Edwards said his salon was booked out for the next five weeks
Blake Edwards, owner of the Flappers and Gentlemen Salon, said he was “devastated” by the news.
The Leicester hairdresser was supposed to reopen on Saturday, but remains “closed with no new appointment in sight”.
He said: “It will also be very difficult for customers.
“Time is running out [for the business now]We will need more support.
“Although the staff is on leave, the rent still has to be paid, all other bills still have to be paid.
“We don’t know what the next 12 months will be like.”
The highcross mall in Leicester tweeted on Monday night that “only major retail stores” would open next to “restaurants and cafes that offer takeaway or delivery” on Tuesday.
Rakesh Parmar, who owns Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe in the city center, said the other restrictions would hit him “financially, very, very badly”.
He said: “The effects of the coronavirus hit us on March 23rd, we closed for 10 weeks and then opened again on June 15th – it was a long slogan.”
Mr. Parmar said that he “fully” understood why further blocking would be required, but asked how his customers felt. He said, “Very, very scared because it’s closer to home than we thought.”
If one thing becomes clear during the pandemic, it is that the faster action is taken, the better.
Given the scale of the Leicester outbreak, it is not surprising that the government is taking tough measures.
However, the question that is asked behind the scenes is whether it took too long to see the extent of the outbreak.
One of the problems with the test and traceability system is how quickly data is shared by the national team with local officials.
The national team passes on many cases – all complex cases that affect nursing homes, schools and prisons are automatically transferred.
However, what the local authorities don’t get quickly is comprehensive details about people who test positive.
This means that opportunities to identify trends and clusters early may be lost.
It is now clear that the number of cases in the city has been increasing for a few weeks.
This gives cause for concern that the outbreak was responded to later than it should. If this is the case, it is important to learn lessons, as it is very likely that more episodes like this will occur in the coming weeks and months.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously said that a local “whack-a-mole” strategy to fight outbreaks in Weston-super-Mare and GP operations in London “would also be effective in Leicester”.
After Mr. Hancock in the House of Commons, Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “We were made aware of the situation in Leicester 11 days ago.
“If we as a nation want to get away from the blockage smoothly, the areas where there are flare-ups must react faster, otherwise we risk that no moles will be hit.”
Leicester West MP Liz Kendall criticized the government as “too slow” to contact the City Council and added: “Over [the] There have been confidential briefings in the past few days that have made people anxious and confused. “
Meanwhile, South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa said he was working on “necessary clarity” about the areas affected by the local closure.
Hinckley and Bosworth MP Dr. Luke Evans also said he was “waiting for the official card from [the] Restricted area “.
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