Guardian News published this video item, entitled “Matt Hancock announces testing boost for more areas of north-west England” – below is their description.
Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire will receive increased testing capability, military support and face stricter rules around non-essential travel to drive down Covid rates, the health secretary has announced.
Measures in Bolton, which had received additional support, including extra vaccinations, a return of mask-wearing in secondary schools and stricter rules around non-essential travel would be rolled out to the other nine councils that make up Greater Manchester, Matt Hancock announced in the Commons on Tuesday.
The measures have been in place in Bolton since May, which has the highest infection rate in the region at 319.6 cases per 100,000 people. This has resulted in a drop in rates in Bolton, but the other nine areas have seen rapidly rising cases.
Hancock’s statement did not explicitly refer to increased vaccination supply or travel restrictions, but the official government website that advises people to ‘minimise travel in and out of affected areas’ has been updated to include Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Greater Manchester and Lancashire to receive emergency Covid support
Guardian News YouTube Channel
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