Oldham introduces strict coronavirus restrictions after ‘dramatic’ spike in cases

Oldham has introduced strict new coronavirus restrictions as the area has seen a ‘dramatic’ rise in cases.

The Greater Manchester borough has brought in a range of measures to combat the spread, and residents have been asked to not have any social visitors at home, and to stay two metres apart from friends and family when out and about.

As well as that, people who are shielding have been asked to continue doing so until August 14th, the BBC reports.

Matthew Rees / Wikimedia

Oldham Council’s deputy leader councillor, Arooj Shah, has said that the new measures are essential in order to prevent a ‘strict local lockdown’ like the one in Leicester.

She added: “The best way to avoid infection is to limit contact with others as much as possible and to stay home wherever you can, including working from home”.

The council added that the new restrictions were brought in ‘after the number of cases of coronavirus in the borough increased dramatically over the last week’.

New data has revealed the spike in cases, with 114 cases recorded so far in the week up to July 24th, which is the equivalent of more than 48 per 100,000 of the population – more than four times as many as the week before.

Jeremy Sutcliffe / Flickr

According to Oldham Council, a ‘significant proportion’ of the cases recorded recently came from people within the same household.

They added that this shows spread within a household is a ‘real issue’, with Katrina Stephens, the director of Public Health for Oldham, asking residents to ‘do our bit and stick to the restrictions’.

She added: “We can help stop the spread of coronavirus, and protect ourselves and our loved ones”.

Oldham isn’t the only area in the North West to introduce new measures to help ease a coronavirus spike, with Rochdale, Blackburn and Pendle doing the same.