Coronavirus: Leicester lockdown decision due Thursday

People in Leicester will learn whether local lockdown measures will be eased on Thursday, the health secretary said.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Matt Hancock said the government would base its decision on "14 days of data" on coronavirus cases.

A prolonged lockdown for the city was announced on 29 June with non-essential shops and schools closed again after a spike in positive cases.

The lockdown was due to be reviewed by Saturday.

Mr Hancock told MPs: "Thankfully the numbers have been coming down in Leicester.

"But the number of positive cases in Leicester are still well above the rest of the country.

"I won't pre-judge the decision we make on Thursday."

Data released on Monday showed the city has seen its infection rate fall from 156.8 per 100,000 people in the seven days to 26 June, to 114.3 in the seven days to 10 July.

A Public Health England report published on Saturday showed a seven-day rate of 126 cases of coronavirus per 100,000 people.

It is significantly higher than other East Midlands cities such as Derby, which is 9.3, and Nottingham at 5.4.

Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth asked what metrics would be used to judge whether the lockdown could be eased.

He also said "mixed messages" on extra financial support for Leicester businesses were the last thing "worried" residents needed.

But a letter from Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi said there were no plans to change or extend any current schemes.

On Monday, Leicester's mayor said a city-wide lockdown was "not justified", after new data showed only certain areas had higher Covid-19 cases.

Sir Peter Soulsby said about 10% of the city's neighbourhoods "have a higher transmission" of the virus and data should have been shared earlier for authorities to have focused on the worst-hit areas.

The lockdown zone has also been contested by people and Charnwood Borough councillors have written to Mr Hancock calling for some areas to be removed from the boundary.

"We have seen no increase in transmission in Birstall and Wanlip to correlate with the spike in Leicester City," they wrote.

"As Leicestershire County Council no longer appear to be supporting our inclusion it must be right that we are removed from this lockdown."

County council leader Nick Rushton spoke to Mr Hancock on Monday to discuss the release of certain areas which have shown lower infection rates.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it made "no apology" for trying to reverse infection rates.

It comes after health officials in Leicestershire said the coronavirus outbreak in the city had highlighted the need to tackle health inequalities.

Leicester city clinical commissioning group (CCG) chairman Prof Azhar Farooqi said "one of the learnings" from the lockdown was "the impact of deprivation and ethnicity on health inequalities".

About 28% of Leicester's population is of Indian heritage, and a further 21% are from black or Asian backgrounds.

Another local health official, Andy Williams, said Covid-19 had "once again" shown the virus impacts "asymmetrically the poorest or most disadvantaged".

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