The Health Secretary has reversed the government’s decision to release Trafford from Greater Manchester’s local lockdown.
The borough’s coronavirus infection rate continues to rise and currently stands at 35.8 per 100,000 people – more than three times the national average and a three fold increase on the week before.
This is in spite of there having been lower testing rates across the borough in the week until August 28.
Last week, Labour council leader Coun Andrew Western and Trafford’s director for Public Health Eleanor Roaf expressed their concerns about the government’s plans to lift restrictions in Trafford. They say they were ignored.
On Friday (August 28) at 5pm, the government announced its decision to release Trafford, Stockport and Bolton from the local lockdown restrictions preventing households from mixing indoors and in private gardens.
That change was set to come into effect today - until Matt Hancock announced otherwise shortly after midday.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham slammed the government’s handling of the situation – saying the region had been put in ‘a very difficult position’.
This caused ‘chaos and confusion’, according to Coun Western - who slammed the government for ignoring his council’s concerns.
MP for Altrincham and Sale West Sir Graham Brady announced publicly last week that he wanted the restrictions to be lifted in Trafford.
Coun Western wrote to the government yesterday pleading with them to reconsider and telling them ‘there are three MPs in Trafford, not just one’.
He criticised Matt Hancock’s Department of Health directly for showing ‘disrespect’ to local governments and acting against their concerns.
Both Coun Western and Trafford’s director for public health Eleanor Roaf felt the decision to release Trafford was ‘premature’ by at least one, if not two weeks.
The council leader has previously said the government’s handling of the local lockdown in Trafford ‘made a mockery’ of local government decision making.
Now Health Secretary Matt Hancock has reversed the decision - in Trafford and Bolton.
In a statement, he said: “Following a significant change in the level of infection rates over the last few days, a decision has been taken that Bolton and Trafford will now remain under existing restrictions.
“This decision has been made in collaboration with local leaders after reviewing the latest data. We continually monitor outbreaks across the country, and have seen infection rates increase more than three times in Bolton in under a week, and double in Trafford since the last review.
“We have always been clear we will take swift and decisive action where needed to contain outbreaks. We can bring the rates down if we continue to work together and I urge everyone to continue to play their part by following the rules – get tested if you have symptoms, self-isolate and practice social distancing.”
