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THREAD: I know it seems like I'm banging on about it constantly, but the reason I asked Matt Hancock about these local lockdowns *again* today is we still really have no idea what they are, or how they might impact people's lives.
The Govt's been taking about them for a good two weeks if not more, but some directors of public health and local leaders are saying they don't really know what a "local lockdown" means.
Here's Sheffield director of public health Greg Fell saying just that on Monday, and also saying he wasn't sure he had the power to put a local lockdown in place on any large scale. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/health/coronavirus/public-health-bosses-dark-over-exactly-what-local-lockdowns-are-2885261
Regional journalists especially have been asking if "local lockdown" means a town, region, one street, just one nursing home. The eventual answer was "it depends", which is fair because you have to be flexible to react quickly, but doesn't give much of a clue on the ground.
. @AndyBurnhamGM said yesterday he struggles to see how it would work on a scale larger than, for example, an individual nursing home, and @MetroMayorSteve and @MayorTimBowles said communication on announcements has not been good. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/health/coronavirus/mayors-struggle-see-how-local-lockdowns-scale-larger-individual-buildings-would-work-2887206
And you can see why local leaders are worried, throughout they've said they've heard of changes at the same time as the public, for example with transport, so you can understand why they want to know what may be to come and be able to prepare. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/politics/transport-operators-were-unaware-government-face-covering-plans-claims-leeds-council-leader-2882149
Lib Dem Yorkshire peer @Paulscriven has also been making noise about this, as have others privately. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/health/coronavirus/yorkshire-peer-calls-legal-clarity-over-governments-local-lockdown-plans-2875304
On the Kirklees outbreak, which we've heard about for the first time today, it seems at this stage mobile testing units sent in to help track down positive cases. https://twitter.com/BBCJamesVincent/status/1273660494260383744
Anyway, Matt Hancock said if more powers are needed, such as the ones he has, concerns can be passed up and vice versa.
Baroness Harding says PHE experts are working with local directors of public health, she adds "there is a lot of work for everyone to do".
Baroness Harding says PHE experts are working with local directors of public health, she adds "there is a lot of work for everyone to do".
Matt Hancock did add "we're getting better and better engagement with each local area" as outbreaks are found and "there are more and more councils we need to engage".
He said the process "is in place and it’s up and running and working".
He said the process "is in place and it’s up and running and working".
