Coronavirus Update: Fresh powers was given by councils across England to close shops and cancel events - Get View Updates

 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson gives local authorities greater controls so they can "act faster in response to outbreaks."

Fresh powers have been given to councils across England to shut down shops and cancel events in a move designed to prevent local lockdowns.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that stronger controls would be given to local authorities in time for the weekend, as he set out new details to return the country to normal after the coronavirus outbreak.

James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA), representing the leaders of the council, said he was hopeful that new measures would prevent the need for local lockdowns in the future, as seen in Leicester.

At a press briefing in Downing Street on Friday, the prime minister said: "Local authorities will have new powers in their areas from tomorrow.

"They will be able to close specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces and cancel events. These powers will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount."

Also ministers will be given extra powers, to be laid out in more detail next week, allowing them to close factories and economic sectors in some regions.

Mr Jamieson said: "Locally-led responses have proved to be the best way to address significant outbreaks, which is rightly emphasized in this framework.

"Councils are best acquainted with their local communities and know how to deal with every single outbreak.

"Greater powers for councils to take swift and effective action to tackle local outbreaks will hopefully help avoid the need to impose more stringent local measures."

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He added that the use of enforcement powers "should be a last resort option" and called for more "granular-level data" to be made available to councils to "better enable them to act in real time to increase infection rates."

The move comes in the middle of a row about how ministers have locked Leicester and parts of the surrounding region.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Thursday a partial easing of the cities prolonged lockdown measures, but said COVID-19 rates stayed too high there to allow pubs and restaurants to reopen.

Since then, Leicester Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has accused the government of penalizing businesses and residents in a predominantly Labour-voting city.

Areas outside Leicester City and Oadby and Wigston Borough will from Saturday align with domestic lockdown rules in England.

It means non-essential shops, bars , restaurants and hairdressers will be allowed to open from 18 July not in the continuing protected zone.

In line with national restrictions, schools and childcare settings outside of the protected area will also be able to open from the same date.

Non-essential shops and schools in Leicester City and Oadby and Wigston Borough will be allowed to open from July 24, but bars, restaurants, and hairdressers will remain closed, with a review scheduled for August 1st.

According to data published on Friday, Leicester's rate of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 population fell from 126.1 in the seven days to 7 July to 92.9 in the seven days until 14 July.

At a briefing on Friday, Mr Johnson also signaled a significant lightening of coronavirus restrictions in England, relaxing work-from - home guidance and paving the way for reopening theaters and sports stadiums.

Leading scientists have warned the prime minister might struggle in time for Christmas to deliver his vision of a "significant return to normality."

Sir Mark Walport, a former chief scientific adviser, said that with respiratory diseases tending to flourish in the colder weather it could prove difficult to achieve.

He told BBC Two's Newsnight: "It'll be hard. We know it's winter when respiratory viruses thrive so it'll be tough."

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His comments echoed those of Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, who told the Lords Science and Technology Committee measures such as hand-washing, isolation and household quarantine would be needed for a "prolonged period".

The government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who had previously warned against easing the work-from-home guidance, told the committee that the winter would be a "very complex time" with people going down with other illnesses which were not COVID-19.

The prime minister said during the briefing it will be up to employers in England to discuss with workers whether it is safe to return from 1 August.

Most of the remaining recreation centers will reopen from that date and indoor performances with live audiences can resume if pilots are successful, while trials will start to reopen from October for sports stadiums.

Mr Johnson, who also immediately scrapped the advice to avoid public transport, said before the announcement of the relaxation, Sir Patrick and Professor Whitty had taken part in a Cabinet debate.