Greater Manchester mayor reacts to new lockdown measures in region – his plea is simple

Greater Manchester’s mayor has called on every person in the region not to act ‘selfishly’ – and ‘keep the health of others in mind at all times’ – following the announcement of new lockdown restrictions.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Thursday evening (July 30) that the region – along with parts of West Yorkshire and East Lancashire – would face new restrictions from midnight following an ‘increasing rate of transmittion’.

The places affected are:

People from different households will not be allowed to meet each other indoors in these areas.

“We take this action with a heavy heart, but we can see increasing rates of covid across Europe and are determined to do whatever is neccessary to keep people safe,” Mr Hancock said.

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“The spread is largely due to households meeting and not abiding to social distancing.”

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: “Over recent days, there has been a marked change in the picture across Greater Manchester with regard to the spread of Covid-19.

“We have gone from a falling rate of cases in nearly all of our boroughs last week to a rising rate in nine out of ten affecting communities across a much wider geography. In Rochdale, the one borough where cases have fallen, they are still too high.

“We have always said that we will remain vigilant and be ready to respond quickly should the need arise. In line with that approach, I have agreed with the Health Secretary that it is right to act on the precautionary principle and introduce modest measures now to bring down the rate of new infections.

“I ask all Greater Manchester residents – young and old alike – to protect each other by observing these new requirements. They will be reviewed weekly; meaning the more we stick to them, the quicker they will be removed.

“This is a place which prides itself on looking out for each other. We now need to be true to that by not acting selfishly and keeping the health of others in mind at all times.”