What is a local lockdown and which areas will be affected?

Leicester faces being kept under the current lockdown measures for two weeks longer than the rest of the country following a spike in coronavirus cases.

As pubs, restaurants and hair salons open up across the rest of England from Saturday, they could remain shut in the East Midlands city as it grapples with a recent outbreak of infections.

The city has recorded 866 of its 2,987 Covid-19 cases in the last two weeks alone – sparking speculation that its inhabitants could be plunged into the country’s first local lockdown.

But politicians up and down the country have cast doubts over how such confined shutdowns would work in practice – and whether local authorities would even have the necessary powers to enforce them.

What does the term 'local lockdown' mean?

On 27 May, health secretary Matt Hancock announced so-called “local lockdowns” could be imposed on entire towns and cities if there are regional flare-ups of Covid-19.

The health secretary confirmed the controversial strategy – which could see millions ordered to stay at home while others move about freely – would be part of the government’s test, track and trace system, which it is hoped will help the UK cope long-term with Covid-19.

The idea is that the new Joint Biosecurity Centre – set up last month – will identify area-specific changes in infection rates and advise Public Health England and local directors of public health on the need for possible shutdowns.

These shutdowns could also include “micro lockdowns” of much smaller sites – such as schools, workplaces or even specific neighbourhoods – according to suggestions by ministers.

How might a local lockdown work?

Examples of “micro” lockdowns have already effectively been seen in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, and Anglesey, north Wales, which have both experienced outbreaks within factories.

More than 150 employees tested positive for Covid-19 at the 2 Sisters poultry processing factory in Anglesey, which has contracts with thousands of UK supermarkets.

The company temporarily suspended production at its Llangefni site for two weeks with immediate effect and all 560 staff members were asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

Testing sites were also set up at Llangefni and Holyhead and at an existing facility in Bangor following the outbreak.

In Cleckheaton, there was anger among residents after it emerged 300 workers at a Kober Ltd meatpacking site were quietly tested for Covid-19.

It later transpired that about 60 members of staff at the Asda-owned plant were told to self-isolate for 14 days after contracting the virus before returning to work once deemed healthy – but officials with Kirklees Council had decided not to inform local residents.

The factory was placed under emergency lockdown, mobile testing tents were set up at the site, and about 100 contacts of staff are reported to have been traced and told to isolate for 14 days.

Could an entire town or city be locked down? How would this be enforced?

This is where much of the confusion lies.

Local politicians have warned councils do not have the necessary powers to lock down one specific area while allowing people in other areas to continue to move freely.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, and Steve Rotheram, his equivalent in Merseyside, branded local lockdowns “unenforceable”.

Mr Rotheram accused the government of making policy by “soundbite”, pointing to problems on the border with Wales – or if Manchester was locked down again, but not Liverpool.

Local council and health chiefs say they have been given no information on how a local lockdown would work, given how staff and others cross authority boundaries on a daily basis.

They are also unclear who would make such decisions, with town halls or perhaps the new national Joint Biosecurity Centre charged with issuing instructions.

Even the Labour mayor of Leicester, where a local lockdown is a real possibility, is puzzled by the practicalities.

Sir Peter Soulsby told the Leicestershire Live website: “Where would you even start with such a lockdown? Would you lock down the entire city? Would you include [outlying suburbs] Oadby or Birstall?”

Professor Keith Neal, emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, has said defining the lockdown area would be “one of the biggest problems” as well as making it understandable for people.

He said: “Local authority boundaries can run down the middle of the street with one side in one local authority and the opposite another.

“Urban sprawl has allowed towns and cities to expand, resulting in these areas often joining other areas who identify differently and do not see themselves as part of the expanding town or city.”

What other concerns surround local lockdowns?

Local government sources have expressed exasperation at what they say is a lack of information about how and when their communities are supposed to implement a local lockdown.

Officials in some places, including Leicester and Bedford, have also claimed the government has not shared much-needed data with them about positive cases in their area, such as where exactly they live.

Biosecurity advisers have also previously admitted they are unable to provide full information on local clusters until August.

Which areas in the UK could face local lockdowns?

It looks as though Leicester could become the first place in Britain to impose a local lockdown, however other areas could also follow suit if outbreaks arise.

Boris Johnson on Sunday warned areas could be plunged into local lockdowns if people continue to ignore social-distancing rules.

His comments came following chaotic scenes in Bournemouth last week, where a major incident was declared after 500,000 visitors flocked to the popular seaside resort.

Similar scenes were also seen in other coastal areas such as Brighton, and in Liverpool where crowds of football fans celebrated their team winning the Premier League title.

The prime minister said he would make “necessary closures” if infections spike in towns and cities where such incidents occur.

He told the Mail on Sunday: “Wherever there is a local outbreak, whether in Ashfield or Anglesey, we will empower the local authorities to quarantine everyone who has got it, test back to the moment of infection and make the necessary closures.”

Are there any examples of local lockdowns in other countries?

The extent of local shutdowns may depend on the severity of the infection, analysts believe.

In Beijing, in China, a similar scheme saw millions of residents of entire cities told to stay at home and public transport in and out of areas stopped when cases linked to a wholesale food emerged earlier this month.

Residents in neighbourhoods designated high- and medium-risk were banned from leaving Beijing and had to undergo registration and temperature checks.

Residents in other neighbourhoods needed to show proof of having tested negative if they wanted to travel out of the city, while nurseries, schools, bars, restaurants and clubs were closed.

Two districts in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia state have also reimposed lockdown measures after a surge in cases reported in one of Europe’s largest slaughterhouses.

The state’s governor announced Guetersloh county’s roughly 360,000 residents should only have contact with their own household or one person from outside.

Hours later similar restrictions were imposed in neighbouring Warendorf county on its 277,000 inhabitants, where many of the Toennie meat processing plant’s employees live.