On Friday 31st July, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced new rules on social gatherings in Northern England to stem the spread of COVID-19 which are applicable to Leicester city as well.
The areas include the Greater Manchester area, Pendle, Hyndburn, Burnley, Rossendale, Blackburn with Darwen, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Leicester City.
The announcement appears in response to an increasing trend in the number of cases per 100,000 people in the area, and data from PHE and the JBC which suggests transmission among households is a key infection pathway in the area. It means people in these areas will not be permitted to mix with other households (apart from those in their support bubbles) in private homes or gardens. Some exemptions will be put in place, including for the vulnerable.
Households may go to hospitality, for instance bars and pubs, but new guidance will make clear that two households should not go to hospitality together.
And on Saturday 1 August, Luton will be brought in line with the rest of the country after significant progress has been made in controlling the virus. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said,
“We're constantly looking at the latest data on the spread of coronavirus, and unfortunately we've seen an increasing rate of transmission in parts of Northern England.
“We've been working with local leaders across the region, and today I chaired a meeting of the Local Action Gold Committee. Based on the data, we decided that in Greater Manchester, parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire we need to take immediate action to keep people safe.
“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 coronavirus across Europe and are determined to do whatever is necessary to keep people safe.”
The restrictions currently in place in Blackburn, announced last Friday, will continue.
From Saturday, these leisure facilities will open in Luton, bringing it in line with the rest of the country.
For those preparing to celebrate Eid Al Adha this weekend with friends and family these restrictions will come as a blow but everyone is being urged to follow the new rules and to protect the ones they love from catching coronavirus.
Mosques and other places of worship have reopened for prayer and communal worship, but in a different socially distanced and COVID-19 Secure way. This means that while mosques can remain open, many will not able to welcome as many worshippers as before.
