Eight areas of England considered as variant hotspots have new guidance on travel restrictions and measures for local lockdowns. However, the government did not make an official announcement and failed to inform local authority leaders.
The areas affected are those where the coronavirus strain first detected in India is now at a high rate. This includes Bedford, Burnley, Hounslow, Kirklees, Leicester and North Tyneside.
The published guidance, titled “what you can and cannot do”, applies to people living in the eight worst affected areas of England. It advises the following:
People should not be travelling in and out of any of these affected areas, unless it is essential. Essential includes medical reasons, education or work (if it can’t be done from home).
People in these areas should stay outside where possible and not meet others indoors.
Keep 2 metres distance from people in different households, unless in a support bubble. You should not make physical contact with any family or friends that you don’t live in the same house with.
Bolton, which is the worst affected area already had these extra restrictions in place since 14 May. As did Blackburn with Darwen.
Government incompetence
The guidance was published on the government website on Friday evening, urging “an extra cautious approach”. However, they did not make an official announcement, or inform local authorities. No warnings were given to leaders of the affected areas, and they were not consulted about it. The measures were already in place before anyone even found out days later.
It is shocking for the government to make such an important decision without even telling anyone. This is now seen as further evidence of the government’s incompetence and poor handling of the pandemic.
A government spokesperson says additional guidance was necessary to help slow down the spread of the Indian variant. They deny that it was a lockdown by stealth, and say that local authorities were advised.
During his latest announcement on Wednesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock continued urging vulnerable people to have their second dose of vaccination to guard against the virus. The government still maintain that the vaccine protects against all currently known variants, including the Indian mutation. Mr Hancock also announced increasing surge testing in areas with high levels of cases of the variant. But at no pint in the announcement did he outline any specific rules or travel guidance.
Apparently this new guidance is just advice though, it is not actually law.
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