Wigan has been released from the Greater Manchester lockdown rules after weeks of low infection rates.
It was revealed today that from Wednesday, August 26, the town will no longer be subject to the extra regulations which have been applied to the region since the beginning of the month.
This follows a steady decline in positive cases in the borough and calls from Greater Manchester council leaders and Leigh MP James Grundy.
The announcement means more businesses will be allowed to reopen in Wigan and rules restricting visits to people's homes will also be eased – bringing the law in line with the rest of the country.
Residents will now be allowed to:
- Socialise in groups of up to two households indoors.
- Stay overnight at somebody else’s home - but must try to social distance.
- Book close contact services such as facials and brow or eyelash treatments.
- Visit bowling alleys, roller rinks, soft play centres and casinos.
However, the rest of Greater Manchester's boroughs, including Bolton, Bury and Salford, are still subject to the lockdown put in place on July 31.
This means that you cannot travel to these areas and visit someone from another household indoors, whether that is in their home, garden or at pubs and restaurants.
And, to help keep infection rates down and avoid tighter restrictions being implemented again, residents are being asked to maintain social distancing of 2m - or 1m with extra precautions - and wear a face covering when entering shops or using public transport.
The government has also revealed plans for hyper-local lockdowns and Wigan Council’s public health team will be closely monitoring infection rates across the borough to take action in specific wards if ‘hotspots’ appear.
Speaking after the restrictions were eased, Wigan Council leader, Coun David Molyneux, thanked residents for doing their bit to reduce the spread of the virus.
He said: “I’d like to thank our residents for being responsible, patient and kind throughout the pandemic. I know it hasn’t been easy but by working together and following the rules we’ve managed to keep our loved ones safe.
“I know the tighter restrictions have frustrated many of our residents who felt them unfair, especially since our rates have been consistently low. I shared their frustration and have been working closely with the mayor to ensure that those concerns were heard and acted upon. I’m pleased that the government has listened and reversed their decision to impose rules on the whole region rather than making decisions on a case by case basis.
“However, it is important that we continue to act responsibly as the restrictions start to ease, by following social distancing guidelines, washing our hands, wearing a face covering where appropriate and wiping surfaces to avoid tougher restrictions in the future.”
For more information visit: https://bit.ly/2Q8Uc82.
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