Yesterday (29 June) Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock spoke about local measures to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak in Leicester.

Whilst cases in most parts of the country have fallen since the peak, Leicester’s cases continue to rise. Hancock chaired an emergency Local Action Committee Gold meeting yesterday specifically to deal with Leicester’s outbreak.

The seven-day infection rate in Leicester is 135 cases per 100,000 people. This is three times higher than the next highest city. Leicester also accounts for around 10% of all positive cases in the country over the past week.

Measures to tackle the outbreak

Due to the growing outbreak in Leicester, the government cannot recommend that the easing of the national lockdown, set to take place on the 4 July, happens in Leicester. This includes the closure of non-essential retail as of today.

Schools will also close from Thursday, staying open only for vulnerable children and children of key workers.

There will be a review as to whether any of the measures can be released in two weeks’ time.