By U-turn on Greater Manchester lockdown decision
Parts of Greater Manchester will not have lockdown restrictions eased as planned following a government U-turn after a rise in infections.
Bolton, Trafford and Stockport were due to be released today from lockdown restrictions that were imposed on all 10 boroughs in the region.
The restrictions are still in place in five boroughs – Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Tameside and Bury – with tougher rules in Oldham.
But the decision to remove Bolton and Trafford from coronavirus restrictions was reversed this afternoon (Wednesday) by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Mr Hancock said Trafford and Bolton would remain under enhanced restrictions banning gatherings in homes and gardens “following a significant change in the level of infection rates over the last few days”.
The decision came after Bolton’s Conservative-run council and Trafford’s Labour administration both wrote to him yesterday (Tuesday) to ask him not to lift restrictions as planned today.
The region’s mayor Andy Burnham had called the proposed easing “illogical”.
The boroughs had been due to allow people from different households to meet indoors and businesses to offer close contact services such as facials, but that has now been halted.
Mr Hancock said the decision was made “in collaboration with local leaders after reviewing the latest data” which showed infection rates more than treble in Bolton and double in Trafford.
The latest data for Bolton, from 30 August, shows the weekly incidence rate is now at 66.6 cases per 100,000. This compares with 18.9 per 100,000 between 17 August and 23 August, according to The Guardian.
In Trafford, there are now 36.8 cases per 100,000 people, up from 17.8 per 100,000 between 17 Aug and 23 August.
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