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Nationwide restrictions and “very extensive” local closures could be introduced in England this winter in the event of a second wave of coronavirus, the Health Secretary warned.
Matt Hancock also said that social distancing measures would remain in effect for the “foreseeable” future, and grandchildren will not be able to hug their grandparents at Christmas unless a vaccine is approved.
Speaking to the Times, he said that a second wave of Covid-19 is “a very serious threat” that has already been witnessed in other parts of the world.
“But so far in the UK we are managing to keep the number of new cases flat through a combination of test and trace and local lockdowns,” Hancock said.
“This is a reasonable worst case scenario, that we have severe flu and an increase in coronavirus as people spend more time indoors. Cases are coming back, and we have to use very extensive local blocks or take additional national measures. We don’t rule that out, but we don’t want to see it. “
Hancock’s comments come as restrictions were to be eased for more than 1 million people in North West England, following a drop in coronavirus cases.
Restrictions on viewing friends and family will be lifted starting next week in Greater Manchester’s Bolton, Stockport and Trafford districts, as well as Burnley and Hyndburn in Lancashire.
People in parts of Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees in West Yorkshire will be able to mingle with other households starting Wednesday, but the measures will remain in place in much of Bradford, as well as Halifax, Dewsbury and Batley.
Following Hancock’s warning of potentially severe local closures in winter, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham urged the government to stop imposing decisions “from London” without negotiating with local leaders.
Burnham spoke of how the government “bypassed” local authorities in Greater Manchester and Bradford, dividing communities while keeping some under restrictions and not others.
“So we have the situation where some people in the middle of the street are under restrictions and some are not,” Burnham told BBC Breakfast.
“Imposing decisions like this without agreement or negotiation is absolutely the way to go. With the health secretary warning today of extensive closures for the rest of this year, I think communities around the world should be concerned.
“This has to be a partnership between the national and local government.”
Burnham added that the role that the government has given to MPs in relation to the local lockdown means that “political considerations” are at stake.
“We need a much better process to agree on these things,” he said. “These decisions should be based solely on public health, not politics.”
Meanwhile, Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood has said “draconian action” may be necessary if the public does not adhere to social distancing rules, hinting that the government could crack down on local closures.
He told Times Radio: “If the nation, if individuals do not follow the rules, ultimately … we cannot break the chain of propagation and therefore draconian action is required.
“We’d rather it be local, but absolutely, if that R-rating is too high, this is a warning to all listeners: make sure you walk away socially so we can really contain it.
“This is a long-lasting emergency, I repeat. Until there is a vaccine, this is the new normal we have to get used to. “
