Curbs already in place in parts of the north west and Yorkshire as well as Leicester also remain in place after a review by ministers and councils. Experts found coronavirus infection rates have failed to reduce in the areas despite measures to reduce the spread of the disease. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Unfortunately, the data does not yet show a decrease in the transmission of this terrible virus.
“It means we must keep the current restrictions in place to allow more time for the impact of this ban on indoor gatherings to be felt, and make sure local residents and their loved ones are protected.
“At the request of the local area we are also extending these restrictions to Preston.
“We are constantly examining the data on the prevalence of the virus in these areas, and we will review the measures again next week.
“As we continue to see rising rates of the virus across Europe, it is vital we take every precaution to protect our country.”
Preston was designated an “area of intervention” by the Government after a spike in cases.
Households in the Lancashire city can no longer mix in each other’s homes and gardens and should not be meeting up with other people anywhere indoors.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire/PA Images)
Social bubbles are exempt from the restrictions, and residents can meet in groups of up to six – or more than six if exclusively from two households – in outdoor areas such as parks and beer gardens.
Households can also visit indoor hospitality venues, so long as they do not mix with others.
Restrictions will be reviewed again next week with any changes announced by Friday.
Adrian Phillips, Preston City Council chief executive, said the number of cases in Preston had increased rapidly in recent days.
He added: “It is also alarming to see that the under-30s are contracting it at a significant rate.
“It is clear that coronavirus is still here and we all need to work together to keep ourselves, our friends, families and communities safe from this virus.
“While some wards have recorded a higher level of cases, this remains a city-wide issue and it’s essential that we all do our part to fight the virus.
“We’re urging everyone to be diligent and follow the restrictions, in order to protect all of our residents, communities and businesses.”
The rolling seven-day rate of new cases of Covid-19 in Preston has risen from 20.3 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to July 27 to 32.8 in the seven days to August 3. A total of 47 new cases have been recorded.
Lancashire’s director of public health, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, said the measures were being introduced to stop the situation from getting any worse.
“The evidence is clear, we all need to take extra precautions to protect our loved ones. Coronavirus affects all of communities and we all need to do our part to prevent the spread from continuing to rise,” he said.
“I also want to be clear that this is affecting people from both south Asian and white ethnic backgrounds, particularly those living in poor socio-economic conditions in our city.
“We need to avoid mixing between households and to maintain two metre social distancing particularly in pubs and clubs.”
Extra restrictions come in across the whole of England from today making face coverings mandatory in more indoor areas, including churches, museums and galleries, bingo halls and libraries.
Rules stopping social visits to homes in Greater Manchester, Leicester, parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire remain in place.
Pools, indoor gyms and other leisure facilities will continue to remain closed in Leicester, Bradford and Blackburn. Shielding will also continue for individuals in Blackburn with Darwen, and Leicester City.
In Blackburn with Darwen, the rate has fallen from 88.8 cases per 100,000 people to 82.2, with 123 new cases. Oldham is in second place, where the seven-day rate has jumped from 55.7 to 67.9, with 161 new cases, while Pendle is third, where the rate has risen from 46.7 to 58.6, with 54 new cases.
The rate in Leicester continues to fall, down from 62.4 to 52.2, with 185 new cases.
