Coronavirus cases in the UK are continuing to be closely monitored, will local councils having the power to implement local lockdowns if areas begin to see an increase in cases. Leicester, Greater Manchester, parts of West Yorkshire and parts of Lancashire have been put in local lockdown conditions in recent weeks. But is Telford next?
Telford and Wrekin Council has reported at least 24 cases in the seven days leading up to Sunday.
According to the figures, 12 people tested positive on just Wednesday alone.
However, this figure is lower than the 20 positive tests recorded on one day during the peak of the crisis.
When examining the seven days to Friday, 26 cases were recorded in the borough giving a rate of infection which is almost seven times higher than the week before.
Read More: Hancock hints at Oldham lockdown as council begs him to avoid shut
“We must all play our part to stop the spread and avoid a local lockdown.”
As yet no local lockdown has been announced for Telford and Wrekin, however, officials are keeping an eye on data.
Greater Manchester, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendleton, Rossendale, Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale are currently under local lockdown conditions, as are Leicester and Aberdeen.
Leicester was the first area to be placed back in lockdown, with cases spiking at the end of June.
Now cases are slowly declining and measures have been relaxed in Leicester, however people from different households must not meet in a private home or garden unless they are part of a support bubble.
Across the lockdown areas in the North of England, residents cannot meet with anyone from a different household indoors or in private gardens, including pubs and restaurants.
People can still meet up outside in groups of six or less as long as social distancing measures are adhered to.
Meanwhile in Aberdeen, all pubs, bars and restaurants have been closed, and a five-mile advisory limit on travel is in place.
Residents have also been told not to visit anyone from another household in their homes.
In Preston, residents have also been banned from gathering in each other’s homes and gardens.
Cases have also been surging in Oldham, and Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted it was a “big challenge”, not ruling out the potential for a full lockdown in the area.
Speaking to Times Radio Mr Hancock said: “There is a big challenge in Oldham, the numbers are clear about that.
“Oldham, of course, is part of Greater Manchester, which already has measures in place – not a full local lockdown but measures in place to try to control the spread of the virus.
“We see from what’s happened in Leicester over the past few weeks that where we put a local lockdown in place, it then has been effective.
“And we have been able to announce yesterday that Leicester is coming out of most – not all – but most of the local lockdown measures because the numbers are under control.”
