Stockport and Trafford removed from current local lockdown restrictions in Greater Manchester

Announcements regarding the local lockdown restrictions in place in Greater Manchester are being made today. 

Greater Manchester now has the lowest number of coronavirus cases (788 positive tests) since the end of July, according to the latest infection rates. 

The infection rate is also continuing to fall in seven of the region’s boroughs including in Oldham, Rochdale, Salford and Bolton.

The local lockdown in Greater Manchester restricts people from socialising with people who aren’t in your household or support bubble. This means you cannot socialise with people you do not live with in indoor public venues, or visit friends and families homes or care homes. 

Labour has said the government will be releasing Trafford from local lockdown restrictions, despite local leaders wanting to keep measures in place.

A statement from Trafford Labour reads: “We all want to see restrictions lifted as soon as possible, guided by the data and when it is safe to do so.

“Households being unable to mix in their own homes and gardens is of course extremely frustrating and difficult, and we are grateful to those who have followed the guidance and made sacrifices over the past month since local restrictions were introduced.

“This has contributed to a decrease in the number of cases per 100,000 people in Trafford, so thank you.

“It is imperative that when restrictions are lifted we can be confident we will not need to return to them a few weeks later because of a resultant spike in cases. That would be devastating for families, and hit our local economy hard.

“Whilst we accept that there will be a range of views from residents on this – and that we all want to see restrictions lifted safely as soon as possible – in line with the advice of our Director of Public Health, Trafford Council did not this week request the lifting of local lockdown restrictions. Instead we asked for another week or two of local restrictions in the interests of public safety.”

This means people in Trafford will be able to meet other households indoors and in their gardens once more, so long as social distancing can be maintained. 

Local leaders of Trafford said this is a ‘delicate time’ to ease restrictions with schools going back next week. The borough’s infection rate has been increasing in the last few days and is almost twice the national average.

As well as Trafford, Stockport is also having restrictions lifted, with Hazel Grove MP William Wragg confirming it to the Manchester Evening News.

This means people in Stockport will no longer have to follow the stricter regulations which have applied this past month – however, the government hasn’t confirmed when the changes will officially come into effect.

Mike Pennington / Geograph

Mr Wragg told the MEN: “I welcome this development. I think it was the right decision. I was pleased to work with the leader of the council.

“Even though we are different political parties, we have cooperated, and data has been shared, and this decision reflects the data which shows much reduced rates of infection in Stockport.

“I want to pay tribute to everyone working to bring that reduction about, and to the residents of Stockport for following the guidance. We can go back to a greater degree of freedom, while keeping the guidance in mind.”

It’s thought Bolton will be removed from the restrictions as well, as the borough also has a low rate of infection, but it is yet to be confirmed. 

Additionally, the restrictions in Burnley and Hyndburn in Lancashire will be lifted from next Wednesday with the rules matching the rest of England.

Elsewhere in Lancashire, Preston and parts of Pendle will remain under the current lockdown restrictions, while other parts of Pendle and Blackburn with Darwen still have to follow the tougher rules that were implemented recently. 

According to the latest data from the ONS, around 2,200 people per day in private households in England are estimated to be newly infected with Covid-19 between August 14th and 20th.

This a decrease from 2,400 the week prior. 

A new payment scheme has also been announced by Mr Hancock that will benefit those on Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit that are required to self-isolate or unable to work from home. 

There is a trail starting in Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle and Oldham. This sees eligible people who test positive for the virus receiving £120 for their 10-day period of self-isolation.