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08 July 2020 / Neil Parpworth
Issue: 7894 / Categories: Features , Covid-19
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‘Ay up me duck: Leicester’s in lockdown!’

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Neil Parpworth reports from a city back in lockdown, where the government’s response to the public health crisis is less draconian than it might have been

In recent weeks a significant spike has emerged in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus in Leicester. At the time of writing, therefore, the infection rate in the city is more than three times higher than any other town or city in England. As a result of the spike, increased testing has occurred at ‘pop-up’ drive-through testing centres. Due to infectivity levels, Leicester has earned the unwanted distinction of becoming the first town or city in England to be subject to its own set of coronavirus regulations.

 

The Regulations

 

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Leicester) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/685) (the Regulations) were made at 11am on 3 July, laid before Parliament at 3pm the same day and entered into force on 4 July. Like other delegated legislation addressing matters relating to the current pandemic, they were made under the authority

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