Coronavirus restrictions tightened in Bolton following huge increase in cases

Matt Hancock

The Government has introduced stricter lockdown measures for Bolton following a huge upswing in coronavirus cases.

The crackdown is effective immediately, and includes:

  • An order for food and drink operations, including restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs, to be restricted to takeaway only
  • There are new restrictions on opening hours, meaning all venues, including takeaways will have to close from 22:00 to 05:00
  • It will be illegal for people to socialise with anyone outside their own household in any setting, even outdoors

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said the measures were necessary as the town had “the highest case rate in the country”.

He said there were 120 cases per 100,000 people in Bolton.

Only last week there were moves to ease lockdown restrictions in the town, but these were quickly scrapped following a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Ministers have become increasingly alarmed over a swift rise in coronavirus cases throughout the UK, mainly among the young.

Mr Hancock told the House of Commons this afternoon: “Unfortunately, after improving for several weeks, we’ve seen a very significant rise in cases in Bolton.

“The rise in cases in Bolton is partly due to socialising by people in their 20s and 30s. We know this from contact tracing.

“And through our contact tracing system we’ve identified a number of pubs at which the virus has spread significantly.”

He added: “We’re therefore taking the following action in Bolton starting immediately.

“We will restrict all hospitality to takeaways only and we’ll introduce a late night restriction of operating hours which will mean all venues will be required to close from 10pm to 5am.

“We’ll introduce urgently further measures that put the current guidance that people cannot socialise outside their household into law.”

Bolton Council leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said: “This is not something we want to do, but it is clear the virus is currently moving round the borough uncontrolled and so we need to halt the transmission rate.”

Chris Fletcher, policy and communications director at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “To anyone watching with concern the news and recent rises in cases over the last few days, today’s announcement by the Health Secretary about further restrictions and measures in Bolton will come as little surprise.

“Even though venues can remain open and just offer a takeaway service, the potential hit to the hospitality sector, just getting back on its feet after enduring a longer lockdown than other sectors, could be extremely damaging. The other question is, how quickly businesses affected can convert to off-site sales.

“There is a worrying trend across Greater Manchester with rising cases, and the big concern is that to ensure public health is protected this won’t be the only example of further restrictions with the possibility of even more drastic local lockdown measures should the numbers not start improving.”

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