Amy Woodfield
BBC News

The University of Leicester's vice-chancellor has urged prospective students to still take their places in the autumn following the lockdown in the city, adding that deferring a year is not a "safe option".

Professor Nishan Canagarajah said the institution had already planned for a "local flare-up", adding he does not believe Leicester will be the only place in the country to experience an outbreak

Image source, Google

Mr Canagarajah admitted he was "concerned" that the number of students choosing to study in Leicester this year may fall after the reintroduction of lockdown controls.

He said: "I don't think anybody should rush to make a decision. I want to reassure students in the community that there is plenty of time to control the virus.

"But I think even deferring a year is not a safe option right now, because there are limited options if you take a year out right now in terms of travel restrictions and job prospects."

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester will introduce a "blended" learning approach for the coming academic year, with a mix of online and face-to-face teaching.

The traditional Freshers' Week has been replaced with a virtual transition event over a number of weeks.

The university is also planning to group students in "social bubbles" by putting undergraduates on the same academic courses in the same accommodation to limit social mixing.

PA Media

Leicestershire Police's chief constable Simon Cole has said the force is "thinking about all options" after being asked if roadblocks could be imposed to enforce the lockdown in Leicester.

Mr Cole said police hope "common sense will prevail" and will only enforce restrictions as a last resort.

"Most people have complied here through the previous iterations of the lockdown," he said.

"It's a pretty simple equation really - we live in an area where there's a very, very dangerous disease that makes people really ill, and we currently, sadly, lead the nation in that illness.

"People need to decide about personal risk - you might really want a pint this Saturday. I'd really like a pint this Saturday. I won't be having one, and I won't be having one in a pub because I don't want to risk my health or the health of my mates, or the health of my family."

Image source, PA Media

Mr Cole added he has "huge sympathy" for people living on streets that have been cut in half on the lockdown map.

As a result, some residents living in Bowhill Grove, Scraptoft, for example, are now subject to stricter measures - while others are not.

The boundary lines have been branded "stupid".

"The city boundary clearly didn't make any sense at all because of the way that housing has developed over the last century in particular," Mr Cole said.

"I have huge sympathy with those who find themselves just one side of the road than the other, but you've got to draw the line somewhere.

"I'm sure people understand that those lines are drawn based on concerns about public health and this is a public health problem, and the sooner we can get rid of it, the sooner we can get back to normal."

Leicester's mayor said officials had been trying to get hold of local data "for weeks".

Daniel Wainwright
BBC England Data Unit

We now know that Leicester has had the most cases per population, but we don't know who is currently seeing their cases rise or increase the most.

Public Health England has now published for the first time the full figures of positive cases in each local authority in England in the week to 21 June.

This shows why the government was so worried - Leicester's rate of new infections was more than double the next highest, Bradford. These figures are now 10 days old, however.

What's come as a surprise to many people is that the government's public data on cases, external, updated daily, shows a much lower rate of infections in Leicester.

This is because it only includes so-called Pillar 1 tests - those in hospitals and involving healthcare workers.

The bulk of Leicester's infections have been discovered under Pillar 2 tests done outside of hospital.

Having this new breakdown of both sets of test results is going to be vital in determining where else may need to be subject to local lockdown.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

The police and crime commissioner for Leicester has said officers will need to use "the British tradition of policing by consent" to make sure the local lockdown restrictions are followed.

Lord Willy Bach, who supports the new measures, said this centres around encouragement and explaining.

Image source, PA Media

"The last thing the police want to have to do is enforce a lockdown but if that is required, because people won't receive the encouragement or the explanation, that's what they'll have to do.

"The Leicestershire force are experienced in doing that over the last number of months and I believe they will pick up where they left off a short while ago," he said.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the lockdown measures would be enforced by police "in some cases" but Lord Bach has criticised the "minimal guidance" the force has been given.

He said it wasn't issued with a map of the affected area until "well after the announcement" on Monday.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Snack firm Walkers has confirmed 28 positive cases of Covid-19 at its site in Leicester.

Walkers, which employs 1,400 people across the site in Beaumont Leys, said during June it has seen a "steady increase" in the number of confirmed cases.

The Leicester-based company said its track and trace procedure indicated the transmission of the virus was "not in our factory".

It believes the rise "coincides with the roll-out and uptake of testing" in the city.

"We have seen an increase in the number of confirmed cases, reflecting the situation in the local community and coinciding with the roll-out and uptake of testing," a Walkers spokesperson said.

The company said they have shared their data and analysis with health authorities, who they say support the view that the firm's situation reflects transmission in the community and we "do not have a transmission issue on site".

A spokesperson added employees with a confirmed or suspected case of Covid-19 were self-isolating on full pay.

Andrew Segal
BBC South West

A major holiday park in Cornwall has said it will not be able to welcome guests from Leicester because of the city's Covid-19 local lockdown.

The Leicester area is seeing restrictions tightened in the UK's first such local lockdown.

Hendra Holiday Park, near Newquay, said on Facebook anyone from the area "will need to rearrange your travel plans as you are now not permitted to travel".

It added that it would "begin by contacting each guest from the specified Leicester area to cancel or rearrange your booking for another date".

It comes after another holiday park, Pentewan Sands Holiday Park on the Roseland, said it would "not be able to welcome any guests from these affected areas until the lockdown is lifted".

Hendra also explains how it has been preparing to welcome back guests on 4 July.

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has asked "why was the government so slow to act" to implement a lockdown in Leicester after it knew of a spike in virus cases.

During PMQs, he told the Commons: "At the daily press conference on June 18 the health secretary said 'there's an outbreak of Covid-19 right now in parts of Leicester'.

Image source, HoC

"Yet it was only on Monday evening this week that the government introduced restrictions.

"That's a delay of 11 days during which the virus was spreading in Leicester."

In response, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the government "first took notice and acted" on what was going on in Leicester on 8 June.

"We sent mobile testing units shortly thereafter," the prime minister said. "We engaged actively with the authorities in Leicester, with public health in Leicester, with everyone responsible in Leicester, in the way we have done with other areas that have had similar issues."

BBC Radio Leicester

Leicester might be the first city in England to have a local lockdown, but many others across the world have found themselves in the same situation.

It's been a week since authorities in Germany extended a lockdown in and around Gütersloh - a city between Dortmund and Hanover in the north of the country.

It followed an outbreak that started at a nearby meat processing plant, where many city residents work.

The mayor of Gütersloh, Henning Shultz, called the new restrictions "lockdown light".

Image source, AFP

He said: "The infected employees of the company are in quarantine for 14 days so our task, as a city, is to check they stay at home but also to check they have enough to eat and drink to support them.

"For my inhabitants, it means the schools are closed but their lives have not completely shut down.

"The restaurants are open, the shops are open, but in public space or in restaurants you are only allowed to sit with two people together or as a family."

He said residents feel "sad and annoyed" by the local lockdown and have been "stigmatised" when they travel outside the city.

"When people travel to the next district, their cars have been scratched because you could see where the car has come from on the licence plate," he said.

"It's quite hard for the people here to accept the new lockdown because since March we were all waiting for living our old lives again - going out and going on holidays."

Despite this, he said the rules were working because people are "very disciplined".

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Authorities in Nottingham have published a plan for managing and controlling a coronavirus outbreak in the city.

The city council has published a Local Outbreak Control Plan, external detailing how it would work with partners, businesses and residents to contain the spread of the virus, working with the NHS Test and Trace service.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

It comes after councils were asked by the government to lead and manage the risk of potential future local outbreaks, such as the one seen in Leicester.

Alison Challenger, the city's director of public health, said: "[The plan] gives us the power to make the best decisions for our local citizens based on our local knowledge and expertise.

"We know that every incident will be different and that we will have to assess outbreaks on a case-by-case basis, but having a plan will allow us to respond quickly in a structured way."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

The local lockdown measures in Leicester are due to be reviewed from 18 July, according to guidance, external published by the government.

A number of tighter restrictions have been announced for the city and surrounding suburbs, with people urged to stay at home "as much as they can".

The guidance also states:

• Single-adult households (those who live alone or with dependent children only) can still form a support bubble with one other household
• People are still able to meet outdoors in groups of up to six, provided social distancing is adhered to

Image source, Getty Images

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

The British Medical Association has told the government it must provide coronavirus data more quickly to local authorities to help them deal with spikes.

It comes after Leicester became the first city in England to go under local lockdown.

Image source, Getty Images

Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said it took 11 days for the decision to extend the lockdown to be made.

The union representing doctors in the UK said ministers needed to be more open and transparent with Covid-19 data and about how regional spikes in infections will be managed in the future.

The government insisted it had been working closely with local partners in Leicester.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A postcode checker, external that allows people to see if their area falls inside or outside the Leicester lockdown boundary is now available online.

It has been set up by Leicestershire County Council.

Image source, Leicestershire County Council

Nearly all of the city is included, along with some bordering towns like Wigston and Glenfield.

Alex Smith
BBC News Online

Here's a reminder of the stricter measures for the city and surrounding suburbs:

• All non-essential shops in Leicester have shut
• Schools will mostly close tomorrow except for vulnerable children and children of key workers
• People should avoid all but essential travel to, from and within Leicester and should "stay at home as much as you can"
• The planned relaxation of rules for England on Saturday - including the reopening of pubs and restaurants - will not go ahead in Leicester
• The easing of shielding measures on 6 July - which will allow the most clinically vulnerable to spend more time outside - will not apply in Leicester

Image source, PA Media

PA Media

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth has said people in Leicester "just want clarity" over the return of tighter lockdown measures for the city.

The Labour MP for Leicester South told ITV's Good Morning Britain this morning people were "really worried" about what the changes will mean for their children and businesses.

He said: "I don't think it's fair to the people of Leicester to announce at a press conference on a Thursday afternoon that Leicester has a problem, but then actually take 11 days to tell Leicester that they are going into lockdown and what they are going to do about it.

"People are really worried in Leicester, people are going to be anxious.

"People who were planning to get their businesses open this Saturday are desperately worried about their livelihoods and what happens next with the economy.

"And every parent in Leicester is concerned about the safety of their children obviously, but is also deeply concerned about their children missing out on more education."

Image source, Getty Images

Labour had called for the government to hold a press conference yesterday afternoon to provide more detail on the local lockdown, but the prime minister's spokesman said there were "no plans" for that, adding Boris Johnson would "stay in close contact" with Leicester's mayor.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock added he came to the House of Commons within hours of the final decision over the stricter measures.

There are many key workers carrying on with jobs that you may not have realised are classified as critical.

Leicester's police and crime commissioner complains that agencies have been "drip-fed" information.

A Cornwall holiday park says no one from Leicester can visit due to the coronavirus lockdown there.

Cities with similar demographics will be at risk of spikes in coronavirus cases, an expert warns.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

The manager of Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre said he doesn't know if it will survive this extra period of lockdown.

The centre, which is a self-funded charity, is open all year round but 80% of their income is made between April and September.

Stuart Fraser said: "I am shocked and heart-broken.

"Unless there is more funding coming from somewhere, I don't see how we can survive winter."

Image source, Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre

Mr Fraser added: "Being able to run some sessions from Saturday would have at least given us a three-month window so maybe we could get by on reduced hours in the winter.

"But I don't see how we are going to do that anymore."

He said after all the preparations for re-opening, they have had the "rug ripped from under us" and now they have the big task of refunding people.

"And we can't generate the money for the charity - it is gut wrenching," he said.

Image source, Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre