Ministers have called in more help from the military and will deploy additional testing and health teams in parts of Greater Manchester and Lancashire after the rise in cases of the delta coronavirus variant first identified in India.
It comes as new NHS internal data shared with The Independent shows an increase in hospital admissions in the area, with 13 new Covid-19 patients admitted to Manchester hospitals at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
The measures could help ministers decide whether to proceed with the final end of social distancing rules, which will be released on Jan.
While a growing number of experts have cautioned against the spread of the Delta variant, many Tory backbenchers are pushing for a full reopening of the economy. It was reported yesterday evening that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is ready to accept a delay of up to four weeks in the lockdown exit plan.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Tuesday’s new measures would include additional testing, as well as supervised tests at school and military support. He told MPs that this approach had previously worked in south London and Bolton.
Ministers have extended their advice to “minimize travel” to include Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
And local public health directors will be left free to reintroduce the mandatory use of face coverings in school common areas if they deem the measure appropriate.
But Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham urged ministers to go further and send more vaccines to the area.
“We’re not asking for more vaccine here than our fair share. We are requesting that deliveries from Greater Manchester be brought forward so that we can have a surge vaccination program for the next three weeks, ”he said.
He emphasized that the new system was “not a lockdown”, but “advice”.
Across England, there were 879 Covid-19 patients in hospital according to the latest official data, with a total of 66 new admissions in the last 24 hours through Tuesday. In the northwest there are 246 Covid-19 patients in the hospital, 163 of them in the Greater Manchester area.
As admissions rise, the number of hospital discharges – 101 last day – has resulted in the total number of cases in the hospital increasing by just 19 in Tuesday’s figures.
Mr Hancock announced increased support when he told MPs that on June 21st the government would face a “challenging decision” on whether or not to lift remaining lockdown restrictions across England.
He also appealed to residents of Greater Manchester and Lancashire to get tested and vaccinated against the coronavirus as soon as they are eligible, “because that’s our way out of this pandemic together.”
As part of the government’s recommendations, those in areas affected by an increase in cases of the variant first identified in India are encouraged to meet outside instead of inside whenever possible, maintain social distance and minimize travel to and from affected regions.
Recent measures to stop the surge of the variant of the coronavirus first identified in India will cover 10 percent of the UK population.
Official statistics released yesterday showed that only a tiny number of those hospitalized with the Delta variant had received two doses of the vaccine.
Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has suggested that any delay in the UK roadmap to lift the lockdown would only be a few weeks due to the success of the vaccination program.
Mr Hancock told MPs: “We are offering a reinforced package of support based on the events in Bolton to help Greater Manchester and Lancashire cope with the surge in the Delta variant there.
“This includes rapid response teams, additional tests, military support and supervised in-school tests.”
“I encourage everyone in Manchester and Lancashire to take the tests on offer,” he added.
“We know this approach can work. We saw that it worked in South London and Bolton to stop the rise in the number of cases.
“This is the next level in the pandemic fight in Manchester and Lancashire and of course it is important that the people in these areas, as everywhere else, come forward and get the push as soon as they are entitled because that is our pandemic way out together . “
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said, “We want to bring the Bolton support package to a wider area … to address the Delta variant cases.”
