From today about 13 million people (about one in five) in the UK are under some form of restrictions, including 55% of the north of England.

There's one curious exception though and it's the most puzzling decision I've come across in months of local lockdowns...

Blackpool is now the only area in Lancashire where additional restrictions on households mixing do not apply.

In fact, it's the only area in a region of about 6m people where the rules don't apply (The other blank on the BBC map is Bolton, which is under tighter lockdown)

Why? The official explanation is that it's because it is a separate unitary authority to Lancashire ("Crackers," said one public health boss) and two weeks ago had lower infection rates than elsewhere in the county. But that's not longer the case.

Blackpool's infection rate is now significantly higher than half the Lancs council areas that will be subject to these new rules. @LiveLancs has a good write-up here: https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/blackpool-covid-measures-weekend-weather-18971573

Infections have risen almost fourfold in Blackpool since 4 September (from 20 cases a week to 78), far steeper then England's 52% increase. Its infection rate is 55 cases per 100,000 people - up from 14 three weeks earlier. England's is 33.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/cases?areaType=ltla&areaName=Blackpool

Perhaps even more puzzling is that Blackpool is one of the main tourist destinations in a region with the highest-infection rates in England. People, many of whom will live in the worst-hit areas, are drawn there (indeed, actively encouraged to visit: https://twitter.com/visitBlackpool/status/1307354010567942147?s=20)

I asked govt to explain why Blackpool had been omitted from the rules and got a 251-word response but no real answer. I asked exactly what data they used, for what timeframe, and whether there was any consideration of wider picture in the region. Most of reply below:

People in Blackpool are concerned, especially after thousands visited at the weekend - despite police advice to stay away.

But this has wider significance as it's about confidence in decision-making. Anomalies like this don't help, especially when not fully explained.