UK government criticised after changing Covid advice for eight areas

The UK government was accused of ordering “local lockdown by stealth” after changing its coronavirus guidance to restrict travel into and out of areas with high levels of the variant first detected in India without telling the public, local officials or politicians.

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s shadow health secretary, questioned why health secretary Matt Hancock did not formally announce the changes in the House of Commons.

Speaking in parliament, Ashworth urged the government to withdraw the guidance and instead convene a meeting with directors of public health in order to discuss other methods, including enhanced contact tracing and increased vaccinations.

Nadhim Zahawi, Vaccines minister, said the guidance simply called on people to take “individual responsibility”. They could still take holidays and visit family but should do so outdoors if possible, he added.

He said he had spoken with 10 metro mayors on Tuesday. “We are always looking to see how we can communicate more effectively with local authorities,” he added.

The advice says that people should only visit or leave eight council areas, with almost 2m residents combined, for essential reasons. Those living there should avoid socialising inside, despite national rule changes that took effect on May 17 allowing indoor gatherings of six people or two households. People should also work from home if possible.

The areas are Bolton, Kirklees, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, North Tyneside, Leicester, Hounslow in London and Bedford.

Dominic Harrison, director for public health in Blackburn with Darwen, said in a tweet: “Areas involved were not consulted with, warned of, notified about, or alerted to this guidance. I have asked to see the national risk assessment which supports this action — it has not been provided to us yet.”

The advice was changed for Bolton and Blackburn on May 14, and for the other areas on May 21.

Some MPs called for financial help for indoor hospitality businesses in areas where people were being advised not to use them. Zahawi said they could remain open and so did not need more support.

The government has said it is confident the fast spread of B.1.617.2, the variant first identified in India, would not derail plans to lift most remaining restrictions in England on June 21, which would allow mass indoor gatherings and end the two-metre social-distancing rule.

The government has increased vaccination rates and testing in the eight areas grappling with the new variant with emergency centres that do not require an appointment.

Anyone over the age of 16 who is vulnerable or lives with someone who is can get a Covid vaccine. The national programme in England is open to those aged 32 and over.

Bolton recorded 451 overall cases per 100,000 people in the week to May 20, the highest in England.

Experts believe the variant spreads around 50 per cent more easily than the original Sars-Cov-2 strain. Studies show vaccines are effective against it but those who have had only one dose get only about 33 per cent immunity.

In the UK as a whole, more than 38m people have had a first vaccine dose, with 22.9m receiving a second — 43.5 per cent of the adult population. Zahawi said the average number of daily deaths is now six, the lowest since mid March 2020.