Coronavirus lockdown restrictions to be lifted in parts of northern England, government confirms
Lockdown restrictions, which are put in place to limit the spread of coronavirus, are to be lifted in parts of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire where incidence rates have decreased, the government has announced.
From September 2 the following parts of Greater Manchester and Lancashire will have their local restrictions lifted:
Greater Manchester:
Bolton
Trafford
Stockport
Lancashire:
Burnley
Hyndburn
A ban on two households mixing indoors will remain in City of Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Bury and Tameside.
In Oldham, in addition to a household mixing ban indoors, residents will continue to be advised to avoid mixing with anyone from anther household anywhere.
Some wards of Bradford, Calderdale (excluding Halifax) and Kirklees (excluding Dewsbury and Batley) will also have their local restrictions lifted from September 2.
The weekly Local Action Gold Committee, chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, agreed local restrictions will continue in some areas.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said the government should not "impose" decisions on easing or tightening local coronavirus lockdown restrictions without consulting local leaders.
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“Imposition of decisions like this without agreement or negotiation is absolutely the wrong way to go," he said.
“My main message to the Government is you must not impose these things from London when you are going to affect communities in this way, it must be by negotiation and agreement.
“And that needs to be a core principle that we agree on before we go any further into the rest of what will be a very difficult year.”
He told the BBC: “We need a much better process for agreeing these things.
“The Government have given a role to members of Parliament, who in my view are bringing political considerations to this.
“These decisions should be driven by public health alone, not politics.”
Cases per 100,000 in Oldham reached 67.1 during the week ending August 20, the second highest in England, the Government said.
The announcement comes hours after public health officials confirmed restrictions on mixing between different households in Burnley and Hyndburn, to limit the spread of coronavirus, will be lifted next Wednesday.
But stricter measures will remain in place in Preston and parts of Pendle.
People living elsewhere in Pendle and in the northern part of Blackburn with Darwen will still not be able to socialise with anyone outside their household and should only use public transport if essential.
A Government statement said: "In Pendle and Blackburn residents will continue to be advised to avoid mixing with anyone from another household anywhere."
"Some businesses and organisations remain closed in Blackburn and Darwen."
It added: "Pendle had the highest number of cases per 100,000 anywhere in England during the week ending August 20, reaching 67.8."
"The ban on two households mixing indoors will continue in Preston."
"On top of the indoor gatherings restrictions, some leisure sector businesses will continue to remain closed."
"The next review of these measures will take place by September 11."
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The statement continued: "In Kirklees, the ban on indoor household gatherings will continue in Dewsbury and Batley."
"The ban will also continue in parts of Calderdale."
Lancashire’s director of public health, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, said: "People living in Burnley and Hyndburn will be pleased that Government has lifted the additional restrictions in their areas, but this should not lead to complacency."
"In both Burnley and Hyndburn infection rates are significantly above the national average with an increasing rate in Hyndburn."
"Coronavirus does not respect administrative boundaries and there is a high volume of social, educational and commuting travel between these areas and Lancashire’s hotspots."
"The virus is very much still present in both Burnley and Hyndburn so residents must play their part to help protect themselves, their families and their communities."