Coronavirus news: First UK local lockdown imposed in Leicester as WHO chief warns pandemic ‘not even close to being over’
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Britain’s first local lockdown has been imposed in Leicester by the government after a surge in coronavirus cases in the city.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said schools and non-essential retail shops will have to close again, while existing anti-coronavirus measures would be extended for at least two weeks longer than the rest of the country.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, has called the pandemic a “disaster” for the UK and made it clear he wants to boost infrastructure spending to help the economy.
Globally, the death toll for Covid-19 has topped half a million, while more than 10 million people have tested positive for the virus.
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Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth made a similar point about the slow response of government to the Leicester outbreak during his questions to Matt Hancock.
Referring to Boris Johnson's "whack a mole" strategy, he said: '"Those areas that see flare ups need greater speed in the response, otherwise we risk no moles getting whacked."
Why has the outbreak occurred in Leicester?
Matt Hancock said that the government is still looking at why the outbreak has happened in Leicester.
"There are many reasons and potential reasons why this outbreak has occurred in the way it has in Leicester, we're still getting to the bottom of those," he said.
"But I absolutely undertake to then ensure that other directors of public health in local areas understand those reasons so we can get to the bottom of them.
"For instance, we're doing work specifically on food processing factories which round the world seem to have a higher rate including, not only in America, in Germany, also in North Wales, and of course there is a challenge in the community to ensure that we understand properly the origins and the spread of this outbreak in Leicester."
Leicester lockdown 'more than we anticipated', says city mayor
Reacting to the new lockdown restrictions set to be imposed on Leicester, the city's mayor Sir Peter Soulsby told BBC Radio Leicester: "They've gone further than we anticipated they might.
"They are clearly determined to start with the maximum, as it were, to see how it works and then perhaps to use the learning from this in other areas I have no doubt will follow.
"I can understand it from their perspective - they are entirely convinced that the level of the transmission of the disease in Leicester is at a higher level than I think the figures show.
"Nonetheless I can understand why they want to err on the safe side... I can see where they're coming from even thought I still have some scepticism about the figures that led them to this."
'Coronavirus does not adhere to lines on a map'
Reacting to the new lockdown restrictions in Leicester, Nick Rushton, the leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: "Protecting residents is our main concern and we're working closely with Leicester City Council and the government to bring down the number of cases.
"Clearly coronavirus does not adhere to lines on a map. And although county rates are below the national and regional averages, we can't be complacent and it makes sense to step up restrictions in areas closer to the city.
"This is the first localised lockdown on this scale and undoubtedly there will be issues to iron out.
"I understand this is disappointing news for residents, parents of schoolchildren and businesses when most of the country is opening back up but it's crucial that people follow the latest advice.
"Observing social distancing, hand-washing, wearing a face mask where required and getting tested if you have symptoms remain vital.
"Our actions play a key role in shaping what happens next and I encourage people to heed the advice and play their part in helping to save lives and livelihoods."
Leicester lockdown follows 944 cases in two weeks
In a statement, Leicester City Council said there have been 944 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the city in the past two weeks.
The council said it has only recently been given provided with data relating to testing centres (which the government refers to as Pillar 2) in addition to staff and patients in hospitals (Pillar 1).
An indoor testing centre is due to open on Tuesday at the Highfields Community Centre, with further testing sites planned.
The council said it is reviewing its plans to extend the opening of its own buildings such as libraries, museums and children's centres.
The city's mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "These measures are stricter than we anticipated but we understand the need for firm action. I am determined that we will make this work and to minimise the time these additional measures need to be in place in the city. We will of course continue to play our part in keeping people in the city safe and healthy."
Senegal lifts lockdown to boost economy
Senegalese President Macky Sall has announced the state of emergency and night-time curfew will be lifted on Tuesday night.
He said the economy could grow less than 1.1 per cent this year, compared to the pre-Covid-19 forecast of 6.8 per cent.
"This is the challenge we must now face: to fight to preserve our lives and our health, and to resume all our productive activities to get our economy back on track," Sall said in a speech to the nation.
Air borders will open from July 15 under certain conditions, he said. Coronavirus has infected over 6,600 people and jilled 108 in Senegal.
HIV drug 'ineffective' at treating Covid-19, trial finds
An antiviral drug used to treat HIV and earmarked as a potential Covid-19 treatment is ineffective at treating the disease, a major study has indicated.
Lopinavir-ritonavir showed "no beneficial effect" in hospitalised patients not on ventilators, according to the University of Oxford's Recovery trial - the world's largest randomised clinical trial (RCT) of potential Covid-19 treatments.
Many countries which currently recommend the drug should revise their guidelines in the wake of the results, experts said, as they pulled the medication from the trial.
Some 1,596 patients were randomised to receive the drug and were compared with 3,376 patients randomised to receive standard hospital care, researchers said.
Of these patients, some 4 per cent required invasive mechanical ventilation when they entered the trial, 70 per cent required oxygen alone, and 26 per cent did not require any respiratory intervention.
The results showed "no significant difference in the primary endpoint of 28-day mortality" (22.1% lopinavir-ritonavir v 21.3% usual care), the Recovery trial said.
The trial researchers added: "The results were consistent in different subgroups of patients.
"There was also no evidence of beneficial effects on the risk of progression to mechanical ventilation or length of hospital stay.
"These data convincingly rule out any meaningful mortality benefit of lopinavir-ritonavir in the hospitalised Covid-19 patients we studied."
Ministers refuse to extend suspension on benefit sanctions
The government has refused to extend the suspension on benefit sanctions beyond June, despite warnings that lifting the ban now threatens to place millions of people in an “untenable situation”.
The people of Leicester and surrounding areas are expressing their frustration on social media over the lack of information - particularly about which areas will be included in the local lockdown.
Several maps (as well as the inevitable joke maps) showing a supposed boundary have already been shared online, but there is as yet no official version. This is coming tomorrow, apparently.
Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa writes: "I know this is frustrating - I’m still awaiting official confirmation as to which parts of South Leicestershire are included in the local lockdown, I wouldn’t want to give anyone information that isn’t correct. I’m working to get the necessary clarity for my constituents ASAP."
That's it for our live coverage for now. Thanks for reading.
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