Covid-19 cases have doubled in most places in England that are subject to long-term local lockdowns, exclusive Guardian analysis has found, amid growing concern that the patchwork of restrictions is confusing and done “on the cheap”.
My colleagues Niamh McIntyre and Josh Halliday report that in 11 out of 16 English cities and towns where restrictions were imposed nine weeks ago, the infection rate has at least doubled, with cases in five areas of Greater Manchester rising faster than the England average in that time.
In Wigan, cases have risen from seven per 100,000 residents to 102 in that period. Leicester is the only one of the 16 areas to record fewer cases than when the measures were implemented.
– The British prime minister, who contracted coronavirus himself earlier this summer and just this week batted away accusations that he was suffering from “long Covid” by claiming he was “fit as a butcher’s dog”, sends this message of sympathy to the sickly first couple.
My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady. Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 2, 2020
Here’s Vincent Wood with a look at the other world leaders who have contracted the respiratory disease blighting the planet in 2020.
