On 4th September, the government announced that numerous businesses including casinos, bowling alleys, exhibition halls besides other play and leisure centres will be able to re-open across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire. In the meantime, Newark and Sherwood, Slough and Wakefield will be removed from the “areas of concern”.
Lockdown restrictions were imposed in north of England following a spike in the number of Covid-19 infections. Now, pools, gyms and sports facilities will also be allowed to open across the country from Tuesday and applicable to the rest of Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford and Leicester. But the government is expected to formally review restrictions on other businesses in Leicester by 11th September. Indoor swimming pools, including water parks, indoor fitness and dance studios, indoor gyms and sports courts and facilities will be able to lawfully reopen from Tuesday 8th September
In north of England socially distanced indoor performances will also be able to resume, and remaining restrictions on certain close contact services (treatments on the face, such as eyebrow threading or make-up application) will be lifted. These easements will bring Greater Manchester, apart from Bolton, Lancashire, and West Yorkshire in line with the changes made in the rest of the country on 15 August.
The rates of infection remain too high in Bolton for these easements to be applied and further work is now underway with local leaders. The rate of infection is still too high in Greater Manchester, parts of Lancashire and West Yorkshire to allow lifting restrictions on gatherings.
A ban on two households mixing indoors will continue in City of Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Trafford, Oldham, Bury, Bolton, and Tameside. In Oldham, in addition to a household mixing ban indoors, residents will continue to be advised to avoid mixing with anyone from another household anywhere. In Bolton, casinos, skating rinks, bowling alleys, exhibition halls, conference centres, and indoor play areas (including soft play areas), will remain closed. Socially distanced indoor performances will remain closed, and restrictions on certain close contact services will remain. We are working closely with local leaders. Urban areas of Bradford, where the ban on indoor household gatherings is in place.
