FURTHER restrictions on socialising will come into force across Bradford from Tuesday, the Government has announced.

The Department of Health & Social Care reviews local restrictions every Friday with many hoping for a relaxation on the rules.

The rules will affect parts of Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale as well as Wolverhampton and Oadby & Wigston.

All parts of Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale, will now be banned from socialising with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens, from September 22.

Some wards in these areas had been exempt from restrictions on gatherings introduced at the start of August, but these wards will now also be subject to the ban.

MP Matt Hancock, the health and social care secretary, said: “We are seeing cases of coronavirus rise fast in Lancashire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Warrington, Halton and Wolverhampton. Local leaders in these areas have asked for stronger restrictions to be put in place to protect local people, and we are acting decisively to support them.

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“I know these restrictions will make every-day life harder for many, but I know that residents will work together and respect the rules so we can reduce rates of transmission.

“I urge local people to isolate and get a test if you have symptoms, follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace, and always remember ‘hands, face, space’. By sticking to these steps, we will get through this together.”

The decisions have been made in close collaboration with local leaders, with many requesting restrictions to help prevent further increase.

These changes are in addition to the ‘Rule of six’ which was introduced nationwide on Monday, limiting the number of people who can gather indoors or outdoors to six. This rule is in place across the country and will sit alongside additional restrictions in some local areas.

The changes come as the weekly surveillance report is published by PHE, with a number of updates to this week’s Local Authority watchlist, published on gov.uk.

PHE, the JBC and NHS Test and Trace constantly monitor the levels of infection and other data on prevalence of the virus across the country. As has always been the case, measures are kept under constant review to reduce the spread of the virus and save lives.