On 26th August, Wednesday the Department for Health and Social care announced that restrictions were further eased in Rossendale and other parts of Blackburn with Darwen, in Lancashire.
Tighter rules were reintroduced after a regional increase in Covid-19 cases. The relaxation of the rules means, residents in Wigan Borough, Rossendale and some wards in Blackburn with Darwen can now:
- Socialise in groups of up to two households indoors
- Stay overnight at somebody else's home but must try to social distance
- Book close contact services such as facials and brow or eyelash treatments
- Visit bowling alleys, roller rinks, soft play centres and casinos.
Wigan and Rossendale originally faced tighter restrictions along with the rest of Greater Manchester and East Lancashire because of the wider region's overall infection rate and concerns that the virus was being spread between households.
However, both have maintained low infection rates compared with other areas. Meanwhile Salford, Bury, Manchester, Tameside and Rochdale all remain in local lockdown. Extra restrictions will continue to stay in place in Oldham which still has the highest infection rate in the region.
As of September 2, Trafford, Bolton and Stockport will be lifted out of restrictions which were imposed as the region’s leaders grapple to contain the Covid-19 outbreak. But coronavirus restrictions preventing people from different households meeting in homes or gardens will stay in place in Leicester following the latest review by the Government. Gyms, swimming pools and soft play areas will also need to remain closed for the time being. Restrictions on certain beauty treatments will also continue.
The easing of the lockdown measures appears as the UK government in the coming weeks will emphasise the benefits of employees returning to workplaces, as well as encouraging businesses to make their offices Covid-19 secure. These messages come after the UK reported its highest daily number of new coronavirus cases since 12 June, with 1,715 as of Monday 31st August, the highest since early June. 1,522 people receiving a laboratory-confirmed positive Covid-19 test on Thursday.
