LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The central English city of Leicester could be the country's first to face a local lockdown due to a rise in coronavirus cases, the UK's Home Secretary Priti Patel said Sunday.
Reports in the Sunday Times newspaper said the Government was set to reimpose strict lockdown rules on Leicester “within the next few days”.
Boris Johnson's Government is set to ease lockdown restrictions from July 4 — despite fears of a second wave of infections— by opening pubs, restaurants and hairdressers among others across England.
“I think nothing would be more damaging for our country, for our economy if we do have a second wave,” Patel said.
More than 43,500 people have died due to the coronavirus in Britain, official figures show.