Local lockdowns: Preston, Burnley, Blackburn and Wigan among the council areas in Lancashire and the North West most likely to be hit by tier system as the Indian variant threatens Covid roadmap
Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Environment Secretary George Eustice have both said in recent days that a return to a tiered system of restrictions remains an option when the national lockdown is lifted in June.
This comes as areas across the North West including, Blackburn and Darwen, Burnley, Bolton and Manchester have all seen a sustained surge in new cases of Covid, including the Indian variant.
Last year Government ministers made decisions around local restrictions using the following criteria:
- the rate of Covid cases per 100,000 people
- the rate of increase
- the prevalence among people aged 60 and over
- the positivity rate – which is the proportion of tests that come back positive (National average 0.7 as of May 20).
- pressure on the NHS
Based on last year's local lockdown criteria (with the exception of 'pressure on the NHS'), our data experts have identified the top 20 council areas currently at risk areas across the country, nine of which are in the North West.
Below are the council areas across Lancashire and the North West currently most at risk of local lockdown:
Last year Government ministers made decisions around local restrictions using the following criteria:
5. Manchester
In Manchester the current rate of infection is 45 per 100,000 people, with cases increasing at a rate of 21.3% in the last seven day. The case rate among the over 60s is currently 12.6, while the positivity rate is 2.
6. Trafford
In Manchester the current rate of infection is 37.1 per 100,000 people, with cases increasing at a rate of 37.4% in the last seven day. The case rate among the over 60s is currently 11.1, while the positivity rate is 1.8.
7. Pendle
In Pendle the current rate of infection is 40.2 per 100,000 people, with cases increasing at a rate of 27.6% in the last seven day. The case rate among the over 60s is currently 22.1, while the positivity rate is 1.3.
8. Preston
In Preston the current rate of infection is 40.5 per 100,000 people, with cases increasing at a rate of 26.2% in the last seven day. The case rate among the over 60s is currently 17.8, while the positivity rate is 1.3.