The UK government on Tuesday faced accusations of confusion and uncertainty after it introduced additional guidance to curtail non-essential travel in and out of so-called hotspots of the B1.617.2 variant of concern (VOC), first identified in India, as part of measures to control the spread of the virus. Local authorities in the affected areas said they were not consulted or informed as the government s coronavirus restrictions website changed its guidance over the last few days for people living in eight areas of Bedford council, Blackburn with Darwen council, Bolton Metropolitan council, Burnley council, Kirklees council, Leicester council, Hounslow council and North Tyneside council.
New local lockdown rules in eight areas of the UK
Parts of the East Midlands are under local lockdown
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Local lockdown rules telling people to avoid meeting indoors and those from outside their household have been quietly introduced in parts of the UK, including parts of the East Midlands.
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Furious locals in Britain s eight Indian variant hotspots have claimed they only found out about the travel ban today as they lamented being forced to cancel long-awaited trips and family reunions at the last minute.
Updated Covid guidance brought in without any warning has urged people not to visit Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside.
It was published by Downing Street on Friday, and asked for an extra cautious approach in areas that have been hit hardest by the Indian variant of Covid-19.
Ministers were today hammered by MPs for imposing local lockdowns by the back door , with Labour branding the sudden shift upsetting and insulting .
UK Issues Localised Directions To Tackle Covid Strain Found In India UK Issues Localised Directions To Tackle Covid Strain Found In India The guidance also calls upon residents of these regions of England to avoid indoor gatherings, which is now currently permitted in most other parts of the country as part of the lockdown lifting roadmap.
The UK has reported more than 4,480,760 confirmed cases (File)
London:
The UK government on Tuesday faced accusations of confusion and uncertainty after it introduced additional guidance to curtail non-essential travel in and out of so-called hotspots of the B1.617.2 variant of concern (VOC), first identified in India, as part of measures to control the spread of the virus.
Leaders in Indian variant hotspots have said local lockdowns are not in place after confusion over Government issued guidance to avoid “non-essential” travel out of eight areas in England. Earlier a Cabinet minister told people “don’t travel to and from Hounslow” and the seven other areas unless it is an essential journey - to stop the spread of the Covid-19 variant. But a joint statement issued by directors of public health in Burnley, Bedford,.