Covid: New West Yorkshire restrictions are a ‘tough sacrifice’

People who live in Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale will not be able to socialize with other people at home or in private gardens starting September 22.

Parts of the area had been exempted from that restriction at the end of August, but it will be reimposed.

The Kirklees Council leader said he would ask the government to reconsider.

Shabir Pandor said: “I know how difficult this news will be to hear. It is an incredibly difficult sacrifice to make.

“We are also concerned that frequent changes in restrictions could have a serious impact on their effectiveness, but also on people’s mental health.”

He said the authority would ask the government to reconsider the most recent restrictions.

However, the Conservative Calder Valley MP said he supported the decision to reimpose restrictions.

Craig Whittaker said: “This is unfortunate after such great progress, but it is necessary to protect us all.”

Halifax Labor MP Holly Lynch said she was unhappy with the way the government made the decision on local restrictions.

You can find more information about restrictions in your area on your council’s website.

The announcement sparked a strong reaction on social media and many users wondered why the restrictions were being applied throughout the area.

“The governor is happy that I am traveling to Leeds for work! It’s a shame,” he added.

Some people have expressed disbelief that Leeds did not have a local lockdown imposed given the high number of cases in the city.

Leeds City Council Leader Judith Blake said the city continues to have more support and will be reconsidered for stricter rules next week.

Daniel Wainwright, BBC England Data Unit

Coronavirus cases in Bradford have risen since the beginning of the month, from 65 per 100,000 residents in a week to nearly 97 per 100,000 in the week through Sept. 15, according to data released Friday afternoon.

While Calderdale’s rate fell to 45 per 100,000 over the past week, it has nearly doubled since the last week of August.

Kirklees too, more than 69 per 100,000 in the week through Sept. 15, has risen from 31 per 100,000 in the last week of August.

Last week, the Dewsbury Moor Lower and Westtown area of ​​Kirklees and the Woodhouse and Little London area of ​​Leeds had the highest number of new cases in West Yorkshire, with 24 each.

In Calderdale, the council leader asked people “not to lose hope.”

Tim Swift said he understood people’s frustration, but coronavirus cases were on the rise.

“This is not the news we would have wanted and we know that it is difficult for many people to hear, but we understand that the safety of our community must always come first.”

Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council Leader, said the council supported the decision to reinstate local restrictions in the city’s nine previously exempt districts.

“In the last few weeks it has been noticed that, as the infection rate has increased, it has also increased markedly in some of those rooms that had previously gone outside of local restrictions.”

He said the virus did not respect the boundaries of the rooms.