City Will Be Put In Special Lockdown After Cases Surge

Brittain's first local coronavirus lockdown could be imposed within days, Priti Patel has confirmed.

- Macer Hall

The Home Secretary said ministers and council bosses were preparing restrictions after more than 650 people in Leicester tested positive for Covid-19 this month.

Food production centers in the city including sandwiches and biscuit factories have been hit by coronavirus outbreaks and five schools have shut after cases were reported among staff.

Workers at two supermarkets have also contracted the bug.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is heading the Government’s drive to curb the spread in Leicester under the targeting approach nicknamed “whack-a-mole” by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Ms. Patel told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show yesterday: “There will be support going into Leicester and the Health Secretary was in touch with many of us over the weekend explaining some of the measures, the support on testing, resources that will go into the local authority as well.

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