COVID-19 update 4 January 2021

Stay at Home – Protect the NHS – Save Lives

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has announced today at 8pm that the country is under a national lockdown, from midnight, with people being told to stay at home except for limited permitted reasons and schools closing for most pupils until mid February.

In summary:

• .People cannot leave their homes except for certain reasons such as to shop for essentials, for medical reasons, if you can’t work from home, to flee domestic violence and for exercise

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “While tonight’s announcement is not the announcement any of us wanted to hear, we recognise that it is needed to stem the spread of this virus and its new variant.

“It is critical we do everything we can to keep infection rates, hospitalisations and deaths as low as we can, no one wants to see the same high levels of infection that we are seeing in other parts of the country at the moment.

“To that end our energy in Bradford District will be directed into working together with the NHS and other partners to maximise our joint resources and accelerate the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines.

“The sooner we can vaccinate as many people as possible against this destructive virus the more likely we are to keep infection rates in check.

“I really feel for the businesses who will be affected by this latest lockdown. We will continue to lobby for more financial support for them and would encourage them to take advantage of the grants and other support available. And we will ensure that grant applications are dealt with as quickly as possible.

“Also the closure of all schools again is going to be incredibly tough for our children, who will lose yet more learning time, and for parents having to juggle work and childcare.

“I thank our residents for helping keep the district’s infection rates amongst the lowest in the country. Our latest figures show we have 191 cases per 100,000 people. Currently, in comparison, other parts of the country have rates that are double what they were at our district’s peak period.  By going into national lockdown now I hope it can prevent more deaths.

“National restrictions, while strict, have been shown to bring infection rates down much faster than other courses of action. I ask everyone to follow the new rules, Stay at Home, and continue to follow the ‘hands, face, space’ instruction. It’s the only way to keep each other safe.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine, we will get to the other side of this and there will be brighter tomorrows.”