Covid-19 restrictions extended across parts of Yorkshire

Restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 are being tightened across swathes of West Yorkshire.

In Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale, residents will be banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens from Tuesday.

All parts of these districts will be subject to this restriction. Some wards in these areas had been exempt from restrictions on gatherings introduced at the start of August, but these wards will now also be subject to the ban, the UK Government says.

People will be allowed to continue to travel to work and children will remain in school, said the Government.

No new restrictions have been imposed on Leeds by the Government today, but the city has been warned it could face further limits this time next week if the number of infections continues to rise.

Leeds City Council has reported that rates in Leeds now stand at 78.3 per 100,000 people, with 7.1% of those testing proving positive.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “We are at a crucial point and we need everyone to get behind the mammoth effort we’ve been making as a city to help slow these alarming rates and keep us all safe.

“This means following the guidelines, observing the new rule of six and keeping safety at the front of our minds at all times.”