Coronavirus Leicester: Could anywhere else in England face local lockdown?

There has been spike in Covid-19 cases across 36 of England's 151 upper-tier local authorities

Health secretary Matt Hancock announced on Monday that the first local lockdown would be imposed on Leicester after the city saw a rise in the number of Covid-19 infections, raising questions over whether other areas of the country could be subject to similar restrictions.

In what the prime minister Boris Johnson described as a "whack-a-mole strategy", flare-ups in other towns and cities across the country could lead to local lockdowns in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus.

However, the flare-up in Leicester, the largest city in the east Midlands, appears to be much worse than other cities.

According to the government, Leicester recorded 10 per cent of all positive cases in England in the past week, with an infection rate of 135 cases per 100,000 over the seven-day period. This is three times higher than the next worst-affected city in the country.

As a result, Mr Hancock said that non-essential shops would be closed in Leicester on Tuesday and schools would be shut from Thursday. The city will also not move ahead with the easing of restrictions which is planned for the rest of England from 4 July, including the reopening of pubs, cinemas and restaurants.

The measures will apply to Leicester and the surrounding area including Oadby, Birstall and Glenfield.

Although the East Midlands city has seen a sharper spike in infections than in other areas, the number of confirmed cases is on the rise in 36 of England's 151 upper-tier local authorities.

Doncaster recorded 32 new cases last week up from 11 the week before, while Derbyshire saw a slight increase from 23 to 25 new infections over the same time period.

Responding to the situation in Leicester, the shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth, who represents Leicester South, called into question the speed of the government's response.

"We were alerted to the situation in Leicester 11 days ago and now we've got tonight from the Secretary of State the whack-a-mole strategy," Mr Ashworth said.

"Doesn't he agree that if we're as a nation to ease the lockdown smoothly then those areas that do see flare-ups will need greater speed in the response, otherwise we risk no moles getting whacked?," he added.

Labour is demanding Downing Street holds a press conference to further explain the Leicester situation, after the daily briefings were cancelled, unless the government "had something really important to say."

Professor Keith Neal, Emeritus Professor of the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases at the University of Nottingham, said that Leicester was facing a unique situation.

“There is clearly a very different picture of Covid-19 in Leicester than other parts of the country, 10 per cent of cases in 0.5 per cent of the population… Each local situation is different and requires a locally targeted approach.

“Drawing the boundary was never going to be easy. Including three surrounding areas will have upset some people in why these were included, but not other areas.

“Somewhere had to be first for a local increase in cases. It just happens to be Leicester.”

A council in West Yorkshire has reassured residents there is no spike in cases there after some apparent geographical confusion from Mr Hancock.

In broadcast interviews about the lockdown measures being re-imposed in Leicester, Mr Hancock referred to previous actions to combat outbreaks in Weston-super-Mare and in Keighley.

But it is believed the secretary of state meant to reference Kirklees – the local authority which covers the Cleckheaton meat processing factory where an outbreak of Covid-19 saw 165 positive cases earlier this month.

Bradford Council, which covers Keighley, said in a Tweet on Tuesday morning: "Just to calm everyone down a bit ... There's no new Covid-19 spike in Keighley.

"MattHancock confused Keighley with a different area on TV and radio this morning. Please keep maintaining social distance & washing hands so we don't need to announce a local outbreak in the future."

Additional reporting from PA