A rise in coronavirus cases has resulted in the first full local lockdown in the UK.
Leicester will face stricter measures than the remainder of the country, with non-essential shops closed today, and schools shut on Thursday. While the rest of England will be able to enjoy a pint on Saturday following a relaxation to the rules, those in the city will not. Those who are shielding in Leicester will also be asked to continue.
Matt Hancock said that Leicester had "ten per cent of all positive cases in the country over the past week". The city council reported almost one thousand positive tests in the fortnight prior to 23 June. At the time, this was around one in 16 of the total cases in the UK.
In a statement to the House of Commons yesterday, Hancock said: "We recommend to people in Leicester, stay at home as much as you can, and we recommend against all but essential travel to, from and within Leicester."
He continued that: We've been taking this highly localised approach but unfortunately that targeted action wasn't working in Leicester and that's why we have taken this much broader measure,"
In Leicester, Covid related admissions to hospital were between six and ten in any given day, while remaining trusts across the country had one admission on average in a 24-hour period.
It is believed that the local measures will be in place for at least 14 days, however, they will be under review constantly.
Liz Kendall, MP for Leicester West, tweeted that the government had been “too slow” to act, and that people have been left “anxious and confused."
