Coronavirus: How will local lockdowns work?

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The UK's first local lockdown has been introduced in Leicester, following a spike in coronavirus cases.

So, how will they be enforced and how could they be used elsewhere?

What could local lockdowns be like?

In Leicester, it will be similar to going back to the UK-wide lockdown introduced at the end of March.

Residents will have to stay at home as much as they can, while people in other parts of England will have more freedom.

Non-essential businesses have to shut again Schools will be closed for all but children of "critical workers" and those classed as vulnerable Local Covid-19 testing will be stepped up

The reopening of pubs and restaurants, and the relaxation of social distancing across England on 4 July to "one metre plus", will not apply.

Non-essential travel to, from and within Leicester should be avoided, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.

Why are Leicester and its suburbs in lockdown?

Mr Hancock told the Commons on Monday the city had "10% of all positive cases in the country over the past week".

Leicester's seven-day infection rate of 135 cases per 100,000 people was "three times higher than the next highest city". Admissions to hospital were between six and 10 per day - compared to about one a day elsewhere.

Its local lockdown will be reviewed in two weeks.

Could offices, factories or schools be closed instead?

The city-wide lockdown was brought in because "targeted action" had not worked, Mr Hancock said.

When many Covid-19 cases are found in one place like a hospital, factory or school, this is called a cluster. They can be dealt with by local directors of public health, often by closing the premises.

There have already been clusters in several parts of the UK:

At Weston-super-Mare hospital, North Somerset At two GP surgeries in Enfield, North London At three meat factories in Cleckheaton West Yorkshire, and Anglesey and Wrexham in North Wales

When different clusters are found to be linked, this is defined as an outbreak.

Image copyright PA Media Image caption Aerial view of Leicester city centre

Who decides when a local lockdown is needed?

If there is a coronavirus cluster at a premises - like a care home or food factory - the local director of public health and the Health and Safety Executive have the power to close them.

The owner or occupier has a legal duty to remain shut.

These powers have been used in the past to deal with outbreaks of salmonella or Legionnaires disease.

If there is evidence of a bigger coronavirus outbreak in a town, city or region, a number of organisations gather to decide what to do next.

These local alerts can be flagged to England's chief medical officer.

If he decides the situation is serious enough he can, in turn, advise a minister to use existing emergency powers to control the outbreak. This could mean introducing legislation which doesn't have to be voted on in Parliament.

What are the coronavirus laws for Leicester?

The government is yet to publish the new laws for Leicester.

As of Tuesday lunchtime, its director of public health, Ivan Browne, said he hadn't seen the government's plan for his city.

"They're producing a statutory instrument [ministerial order] on what we can and can't do," he said.

Can police enforce the lockdown?

Police say they are unsure how they are expected to enforce the lockdown in Leicester.

They have asked for more clarification from the government on what the public can and can't do.

Dave Stokes, Chairman of the Leicestershire Police Federation, said: "If the guidance and messaging from government is confusing for the public then it will be almost impossible for our colleagues to police."

Image copyright PA Media Image caption Covid testing in a Leicester park

Have other countries tried local lockdowns?

In Germany, local authorities have the power to vary the level of restrictions in individual states, and a number of small lockdowns have been imposed recently.

One has also been enforced in parts of China's capital, Beijing after a recent outbreak.

What has been said about the rest of the UK?

Public Health Wales said that a local lockdown was under consideration after the recent outbreak in Anglesey. However, First Minister Mark Drakeford said that any decision would be not be taken lightly.

The Scottish government - for which public health teams work for the NHS, rather than councils - says it is developing a "responsive system of community surveillance" at a national, regional and local level to identify outbreaks quickly.

In Northern Ireland, the government says that any potential clusters or outbreaks will be handled using "appropriate infection control" in line with its normal guidelines for handling an outbreak of a disease.