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The Mayor of Leicester has urged people to “stick together” and stay home after the closure restrictions were tightened.
Non-essential stores have closed, and schools should be closed for most students in response to an increase in coronavirus cases in the city.
Sir Peter Soulsby said he hoped they could work with the government “to be aware of whatever exists.”
The measures announced by Matt Hancock are the UK’s first local shutdown.
The health secretary said the city had “10% of all positive cases in the country in the past week.”
The tightening of the restrictions in Leicester will last at least two weeks and will apply to the city center and several suburbs.
Hancock said the measures would be applied by the police “in some cases.”
Leicestershire Police said it “would provide proportional surveillance under applicable law.”
Sir Peter said he was pleased that the health secretary had introduced measures that went beyond simply extending the current level of restrictions.
“What we got was broader than we anticipated and I am really grateful for that,” he said.
“Because while it is a nuisance and a nuisance for us in the city to be subject to that level of restriction and to have the watch, so to speak, running late, it is something that has a realistic perspective of being effective.”
The relaxation of restrictions in England on Saturday, including the reopening of bars, restaurants and beauty salons, will also not take place in the city.
The relaxation of the protective measures on July 6, which will allow the most clinically vulnerable to spend more time outdoors, has been canceled in Leicester.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the government had left people in the city “anxious and confused.”
The South Leicester parliamentarian said the guidance on essential travel was unclear and that there was “no clarity” as to whether businesses in the city would receive financial aid.
He urged the government to hold a press conference later to provide more details.
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Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer echoed calls for a press conference, saying that the Leicester people were “asking for answers to perfectly legitimate questions.”
Downing Street said legislation already existed allowing the government to enforce the local blockade, but that the health secretary had to sign it.
A spokesman said there were no plans for a press conference, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he “would maintain close contact” with the Mayor of Leicester “while monitoring the situation.”
Hancock said Leicester’s seven-day infection rate was 135 cases per 100,000 people, three times that of the next highest city.
Bradford, Barnsley and Rochdale have seen 45 or more cases per 100,000 people in the past week.
Dave Stokes, president of the Leicestershire Police Federation, asked the government to provide more details on what the public can and cannot do during the shutdown.
“As we have seen in the past few weeks and months, if the government’s guidance and messages are confusing to the public, then it will be almost impossible for our colleagues to monitor,” he said.
Nottinghamshire police said officers could fine visitors to Leicester who they suspected had traveled to Nottingham for a “night out.”
The force said it would work with the British Transport Police to ensure that people did not arrive in the city by train from Leicester to buy or visit bars.
‘Heartbreaking’ for students when schools close
Teresa Lander is concerned about “a massive gap” in her daughter’s education
Teresa Lander, 51, whose daughter goes to Launde Elementary School in Oadby, said the local shutdown was “a surprise and a little annoying” for parents and students.
“The number of schools that are missing is worrying, it is a huge gap in their learning if they don’t go from March to September,” he said.
“They were having fun going back to school, it’s disappointing for them, but you have to respect it.”
Read more feedback from local parents here.
The local shutdown has also affected Leicester residents who had made vacation plans.
Tracy Jebbett, 50, was due to travel to Pentewan Sands in Cornwall with her husband and daughter on July 11.
But the camp the family had booked posted a Facebook post Tuesday, saying they would not allow anyone from Leicester to visit the site.
“I feel like a Leicester leper,” he said.
“I understand why, but I think they should have contacted Leicester vacation assistants privately by email.”
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Tracy Jebbett
Tracy Jebbett, her daughter Jessica and her husband Martin were to go on vacation
The companies also said they had been reeling from the abrupt nature of the announcement.
Blake Edwards, owner of the Flappers and Gentlemen salon, said he was “devastated” by the news as it was due to reopen on Saturday and had reservations for the next five weeks.
“Time is running out [for the business], we are going to need more support, “he said.
“Even though the staff is being laid off, the rent has yet to be paid, all other bills still have to be paid.”
Blake Edwards said his classroom was fully booked for the next five weeks.
The government has confirmed that companies that have been forced to close their doors due to the local closure may re-suspend staff.
The restaurant’s owner, Shaf Islam, said: “I had a spring in my step as I prepared for the reopening on July 4.
“To say the news is a big disappointment is an understatement. We spent a lot of money and I called the staff back on leave.”
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