Greater Manchester leaders call for exit strategy to lift Covid-19 restrictions

Mayor Andy Burnham and other chiefs are demanding an agreement with the Government on an exit strategy for the area from restrictions on household gatherings.

Wigan is already out of the restrictions with the borough's infection rate remaining low – around the national average.

Leaders said they are concerned that the current "piecemeal lifting" is "causing confusion" and there needs to be a move to a "hyper-local door-to-door interventions" in all 10 boroughs based on the model that they said has proved successful in Oldham.

Mr Burnham has written to the Health Secretary offering to work with the Government on an agreed programme for "highly-targeted test and tracing interventions" in communities most affected.

But leaders have asked the government to postpone the lifting of restrictions, planned for tomorrow (Wednesday, September 2) in Bolton and Trafford, after a rise in cases over recent days.

They want these boroughs to be then taken out of the restrictions as soon as possible when it’s safe to do so, along with other boroughs, using a "clearly defined exit strategy".

However they said they support lifting Stockport out of restrictions from tomorrow due to the low number of cases in the borough.

Leaders also agreed to reiterate their request to Government to remove all restrictions on businesses opening across Greater Manchester. They said that this is so there is a "level playing field" for the beauty and leisure industries across the conurbation and to protect the economy from further damage. They said they were "unaware" of evidence showing that these businesses are contributing to spikes in coronavirus.

Chiefs have also asked that further consideration is given to the financial support provided to those who are self-isolating as that continues to be important in controlling the virus in Greater Manchester.

A spokesman for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority said: “It is clear that more targeted, hyper-local door-to-door action is more effective than broad geographical restrictions. That is why the Mayor and Leaders want to agree an exit strategy with the Government for the current restrictions. However, before that it is place, it is accepted that the restrictions will need to continue in eight boroughs in the short term.

“As soon as practically and safely possible, we want to see the whole of Greater Manchester coming back into line with the rest of country but with funding to provide enhanced local interventions where they are needed.”