Postcode checker reveals how lockdown rules differ in areas across the UK 

An unofficial postcode-checking website has been launched to allow users to find out what the coronavirus lockdown rules are in the area where they live. 

Some areas of the country – notably in the North West of England and Leicester – have stricter rules than others because of spikes in Covid-19 cases there. 

As a result of the UK’s ‘whack-a-mole’ approach to local lockdowns, some people have been left unsure exactly which rules apply to them at home or when they’re travelling. 

But one web developer has invented Lockdown Checker, an interactive search engine which allows users to simply type in their postcode and be told what restrictions apply in their area. 

It gives answers to the following questions: the ‘watchlist status’, whether non-essential shops are open, whether two households can meet indoors or outdoors, whether pubs and restaurants are open and whether gyms and fitness centres are open.

Typing in a postcode for Bolton, for example, which was sent into lockdown again two weeks ago, will provide very different results compared to a London postcode where non-essential shops are open and households are allowed to mingle. 

Lockdown Checker shows that Bolton is an ‘area of intervention’ – meaning that the Government has stepped in an applied different measures. 

The website is also planning to add the number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in the area.  

Typing in a postcode for Bolton, which was sent into lockdown again two weeks ago, will provide very different results when compared to a London postcode in an area where non-essential shops are open and households are aloud to mingle freely

Typing in a London postcode will show that non-essential shops are open and that households can mingle freely

Typing in a London postcode will show that non-essential shops are open and that households can mingle freely 

The creator of the website, who calls himself Jamie, said: ‘Working in a business that routinely sends staff into people’s homes around the UK, I was inspired to build a solution which would allow our customer service team to quickly and confidently check whether a customer fell into a lockdown zone in the UK and what the restrictions in an area meant for our business.

‘The main product on the home page can be used by anyone to quickly check whether any individual postcode falls into an area of the UK which currently has restrictions in place to combat COVID-19.’

He said people using the site should check with the local council to verify the information.

When local lockdowns first started – with the initial one in Leicester – the Government came under fire for not being transparent enough. 

It was accused of not sharing the data quickly enough with public health officials in Leicester, which was forced to revert to lockdown on June after a spike in cases. 

Public health professionals across each region are now given positive test data and contact tracing figures every day.  

It comes after Preston was put into a ‘partial lockdown’ just four days ago when cases of Covid-19 almost tripled in a fortnight. 

Health chiefs warned the measures for the Lancashire city – home to 140,000 people – will be kept under review but threatened tougher action if residents don’t abide by the rules.  

LOCAL LOCKDOWN RULES: WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO

Areas affected: Preston, Greater Manchester (City of Manchester, Trafford, Stockport, Oldham, Bury, Wigan, Bolton, Tameside, Rochdale and Salford), Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Leicester.

You must not: Meet people you do not live with inside a private home or garden, except where you have formed a support bubble (or for other limited exemptions to be specified in law).

Visit someone else’s home or garden even if they live outside of the affected areas.

You should not: Socialise with people you do not live with in other indoor public venues – such as pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions.

Punishments: Fines, starting at £100 and halving to £50 if paid in the first 14 days but doubling for subsequent offences.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE RULES?

Greater Manchester (including City of Manchester, Trafford, Stockport, Oldham, Bury, Wigan, Bolton, Tameside, Rochdale and Salford): 2,835,686

Blackburn with Darwen: 149,696

Burnley: 88,920

Hyndburn: 81,043

Pendle: 92,112

Rossendale: 71,482

Bradford: 539,776

Calderdale: 211,455

Kirklees: 439,787

Preston: 141,818

Leicester: 329,839

Total: 4,981,614

All residents will be banned from mixing with any other households indoors or in a garden from midnight, in a last-ditch attempt to curb soaring rates of coronavirus. They will also be urged to avoid meeting with friends in any setting, such as pubs and restaurants. 

But officials claimed people living under the lockdown measures – around 5million across the UK – are still able to meet others in groups up to six from two households in pubs and restaurants.   

Bedford and Swindon, meanwhile, have been added to the lockdown ‘watch list’, which looks at infection rates in areas of concern where officials can work with local authorities to try and keep cases down and avoid local lockdowns.

A mobile testing unit has also been set up in Middlesbrough following an outbreak of 28 coronavirus cases in the town.

Middlesbrough Council on Friday said it was believed all the Covid-19 cases confirmed this week were linked to a small number of households.  

The council said it had investigated a suggested link between an infected person and a town-centre takeaway, and that no further public health action was required.

It and Public Health England’s (PHE) North East Health Protection team are also in the process of contacting anyone who used a taxi linked to someone who tested positive, it added.   

Government data from last Friday showed Preston’s Covid-19 infection rate has risen to 36 new Covid-19 cases for every 100,000 people in the week ending August 4, compared to little over 13 just a fortnight ago.

It comes as Aberdeen was put back into lockdown on Friday as pubs, cafes and restaurants were shut and its population of more than 200,000 people were banned from travelling more than five miles from their homes.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘The past week has been difficult for many people in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and East Lancashire.

‘And I thank everyone in these areas for their patience and willingness to follow the rules.

‘Yesterday I chaired a meeting of the Local Action Gold Committee, and unfortunately, the data does not yet show a decrease in the transmission of this terrible virus.  

‘It means we must keep the current restrictions in place to allow more time for the impact of this ban on indoor gatherings to be felt, and make sure local residents and their loved ones are protected. At the request of the local area we are also extending these restrictions to Preston.

 

He added: ‘We are constantly examining the data on the prevalence of the virus in these areas, and we will review the measures again next week.

‘As we continue to see rising rates of the virus across Europe, it is vital we take every precaution to protect our country. I urge everyone in these areas to follow the rules, get yourself a free test as soon as you get any symptoms, and isolate if NHS Test and Trace tells you to.’

The restrictions on gatherings will be reviewed again next week with any changes to be announced by Friday 14 August.

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