LONDON: Action to slow the spread of coronavirus in Leicester over the last 11 days failed to work and tougher measures were needed, the Health Secretary has said.
Matt Hancock said a range of targeted interventions over the last week or so – including working with factories that saw a spike in cases – had not managed to stem the outbreak.
It came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked the people of Leicester for their “forbearance” in dealing with the new coronavirus restrictions.
Hancock BBC Breakfast: “We have been monitoring it incredibly closely, we have put in extra testing units, some of the schools in Leicester were closed already. We also went into some of the factories and workplaces where there was an outbreak and we put in place measures.
“These sorts of much more targeted measures have worked in other outbreaks. So we’ve been taking this highly localised approach but unfortunately that targeted action wasn’t working in Leicester and that’s why we have taken this much broader measure.”
Under the new lockdown measures, non-essential shops will close in Leicester while schools will close to most pupils from Thursday. People are also being told to avoid all but essential travel to, from, and within Leicester and should stay at home as much as possible.
The planned opening of restaurants, pubs, cafes, hairdressers and cinemas across England from Saturday will also not happen in Leicester. The relaxation of shielding measures from next week is also unable to go ahead for people in the city.
Hancock said Leicester had seen 10 per cent of all positive cases in England over the past week, while Leicester’s seven-day infection rate was 135 cases per 100,000 – three times that of the next highest city.
There had been widespread confusion over exactly which towns and villages in Leicestershire are included in the lockdown.
Leicester City Council tweeted on Tuesday morning: “We haven’t got all the information we need yet about the #LeicesterLockdown.” It later published a list of affected areas, including Braunstone Town (including Fosse Park), Glenfield, Glen Parva, Leicester Forest East (east of the M1) and Thorpe Astley. It also said Birstall, Thurmaston and all areas of Oadby and Wigston were included.
Earlier, Hancock did not rule out forcing people to stop travelling outside of Leicester but said he hoped people would heed the new advice.
He said: “On travel, we are recommending against travel unless it is essential but we are not putting that in place in law at this stage. Of course we will if we have to.”
A statement from Leicestershire Police said: “This is a dynamic situation and we will adjust accordingly providing proportionate policing under the relevant legislation to help keep people safe in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Our approach has always been clear that we will use the four Es – engage, explain, encourage and enforce where necessary.”
Hancock said work was still being done to understand why Leicester had been so badly affected by the outbreak, adding that possible causes such as poverty, higher ethnic diversity, language difficulties and higher-density housing were “familiar” to him.
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said the Leicester lockdown was a “necessary puncturing of the elation that had been building up throughout the country” in the run-up to the easing of restrictions on July 4.
Meanwhile, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the Government’s response to the situation in Leicester “has left people anxious and confused”.
He said Labour supported the reintroduction of restrictions but there were too many unanswered questions, including about financial support for businesses and what constitutes essential travel.
