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| Prime Minister Boris Johnson |
Boris Johnson gives local authorities
greater controls so they can “act faster in response to outbreaks.”
greater controls so they can “act faster in response to outbreaks.”
Fresh powers have been given to
councils across England to shut down shops and cancel events in a move designed
to prevent local lockdowns.
councils across England to shut down shops and cancel events in a move designed
to prevent local lockdowns.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on
Friday that stronger controls would be given to local authorities in time for
the weekend, as he set out new details to return the country to normal after
the coronavirus outbreak.
Friday that stronger controls would be given to local authorities in time for
the weekend, as he set out new details to return the country to normal after
the coronavirus outbreak.
James Jamieson, chairman of the Local
Government Association (LGA), representing the leaders of the council, said he
was hopeful that new measures would prevent the need for local lockdowns in the
future, as seen in Leicester.
Government Association (LGA), representing the leaders of the council, said he
was hopeful that new measures would prevent the need for local lockdowns in the
future, as seen in Leicester.
At a press briefing in Downing Street
on Friday, the prime minister said: “Local authorities will have new
powers in their areas from tomorrow.
on Friday, the prime minister said: “Local authorities will have new
powers in their areas from tomorrow.
“They will be able to close
specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces and cancel events. These powers
will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks
where speed is paramount.”
specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces and cancel events. These powers
will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks
where speed is paramount.”
Also ministers will be given extra
powers, to be laid out in more detail next week, allowing them to close
factories and economic sectors in some regions.
powers, to be laid out in more detail next week, allowing them to close
factories and economic sectors in some regions.
Mr Jamieson said: “Locally-led
responses have proved to be the best way to address significant outbreaks,
which is rightly emphasized in this framework.
responses have proved to be the best way to address significant outbreaks,
which is rightly emphasized in this framework.
“Councils are best acquainted
with their local communities and know how to deal with every single outbreak.
with their local communities and know how to deal with every single outbreak.
“Greater powers for councils to
take swift and effective action to tackle local outbreaks will hopefully help
avoid the need to impose more stringent local measures.”
take swift and effective action to tackle local outbreaks will hopefully help
avoid the need to impose more stringent local measures.”
He added that the use of enforcement
powers “should be a last resort option” and called for more
“granular-level data” to be made available to councils to
“better enable them to act in real time to increase infection rates.”
powers “should be a last resort option” and called for more
“granular-level data” to be made available to councils to
“better enable them to act in real time to increase infection rates.”
The move comes in the middle of a row
about how ministers have locked Leicester and parts of the surrounding region.
about how ministers have locked Leicester and parts of the surrounding region.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock
announced on Thursday a partial easing of the cities prolonged lockdown
measures, but said COVID-19 rates stayed too high there to allow pubs and
restaurants to reopen.
announced on Thursday a partial easing of the cities prolonged lockdown
measures, but said COVID-19 rates stayed too high there to allow pubs and
restaurants to reopen.
Since then, Leicester Mayor Sir Peter
Soulsby has accused the government of penalizing businesses and residents in a
predominantly Labour-voting city.
Soulsby has accused the government of penalizing businesses and residents in a
predominantly Labour-voting city.
Areas outside Leicester City and Oadby
and Wigston Borough will from Saturday align with domestic lockdown rules in
England.
and Wigston Borough will from Saturday align with domestic lockdown rules in
England.
It means non-essential shops, bars ,
restaurants and hairdressers will be allowed to open from 18 July not in the
continuing protected zone.
restaurants and hairdressers will be allowed to open from 18 July not in the
continuing protected zone.
In line with national restrictions,
schools and childcare settings outside of the protected area will also be able
to open from the same date.
schools and childcare settings outside of the protected area will also be able
to open from the same date.
Non-essential shops and schools in
Leicester City and Oadby and Wigston Borough will be allowed to open from July
24, but bars, restaurants, and hairdressers will remain closed, with a review
scheduled for August 1st.
Leicester City and Oadby and Wigston Borough will be allowed to open from July
24, but bars, restaurants, and hairdressers will remain closed, with a review
scheduled for August 1st.
According to data published on Friday,
Leicester’s rate of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 population fell from
126.1 in the seven days to 7 July to 92.9 in the seven days until 14 July.
Leicester’s rate of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 population fell from
126.1 in the seven days to 7 July to 92.9 in the seven days until 14 July.
At a briefing on Friday, Mr Johnson
also signaled a significant lightening of coronavirus restrictions in England,
relaxing work-from – home guidance and paving the way for reopening theaters
and sports stadiums.
also signaled a significant lightening of coronavirus restrictions in England,
relaxing work-from – home guidance and paving the way for reopening theaters
and sports stadiums.
Leading scientists have warned the
prime minister might struggle in time for Christmas to deliver his vision of a
“significant return to normality.”
prime minister might struggle in time for Christmas to deliver his vision of a
“significant return to normality.”
Sir Mark Walport, a former chief
scientific adviser, said that with respiratory diseases tending to flourish in
the colder weather it could prove difficult to achieve.
scientific adviser, said that with respiratory diseases tending to flourish in
the colder weather it could prove difficult to achieve.
He told BBC Two’s Newsnight:
“It’ll be hard. We know it’s winter when respiratory viruses thrive so
it’ll be tough.”
“It’ll be hard. We know it’s winter when respiratory viruses thrive so
it’ll be tough.”
His comments echoed those of Professor
Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, who told the Lords Science
and Technology Committee measures such as hand-washing, isolation and household
quarantine would be needed for a “prolonged period”.
Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, who told the Lords Science
and Technology Committee measures such as hand-washing, isolation and household
quarantine would be needed for a “prolonged period”.
The government’s chief scientific
adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who had previously warned against easing the
work-from-home guidance, told the committee that the winter would be a
“very complex time” with people going down with other illnesses which
were not COVID-19.
adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who had previously warned against easing the
work-from-home guidance, told the committee that the winter would be a
“very complex time” with people going down with other illnesses which
were not COVID-19.
The prime minister said during the
briefing it will be up to employers in England to discuss with workers whether
it is safe to return from 1 August.
briefing it will be up to employers in England to discuss with workers whether
it is safe to return from 1 August.
Most of the remaining recreation
centers will reopen from that date and indoor performances with live audiences
can resume if pilots are successful, while trials will start to reopen from
October for sports stadiums.
centers will reopen from that date and indoor performances with live audiences
can resume if pilots are successful, while trials will start to reopen from
October for sports stadiums.
Mr Johnson, who also immediately scrapped
the advice to avoid public transport, said before the announcement of the
relaxation, Sir Patrick and Professor Whitty had taken part in a Cabinet
debate.
the advice to avoid public transport, said before the announcement of the
relaxation, Sir Patrick and Professor Whitty had taken part in a Cabinet
debate.
