Inside coronavirus-hit Leicester where ’embarrassed’ locals are furious at ‘covidiots’ over two-week lockdown extension
FURIOUS Leicester locals have spoken of their 'embarrassment' as the city is plunged back into lockdown following a surge in coronavirus cases.
As the rest of Britain eagerly awaits a huge taste of freedom on Saturday, Leicester residents and businesses have been told they will endure two more weeks of heavy restrictions.
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Many are now blaming covidiots for their "punishment" - saying they are "paying the price" for weeks of people breaking social distancing rules.
Leicester, with a 340,000-strong population, has recorded 866 new cases of coronavirus in the last two weeks.
Prior to that, in the first two weeks of June, the city saw a surge of more than 600 cases with 271 deaths by June 12.
Leicester is now seeing more than double the number of cases per head of population than Bradford, the UK's second worst-hit area.
Its rate of infections is around five times the national average and accounts for 10 per cent of new cases across Britain.
Matt Hancock told the House Commons last night current restrictions will be extended for a further two weeks.
Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, outdoor playgrounds and other areas will stay closed and not reopen as planned on July 4.
Other freedoms such as the re-opening of non-essential shops will be taken back.
It leaves Leicester's lockdown where the rest of the UK was at the end of May.
Accountant Vina Chaudhry, 34, told the Sun Online: "I’m embarrassed to be born and to live in Leicester and I hope the Government makes an example of our city.
"How can some people be so stupid and breach social distancing rules that are put in place to help keep us safe.
"The city has been packed and we are now being punished for those idiots not abiding by the rules."
Shop worker David Welby, 46, added: "Leicester hasn’t complied and we’re now all paying the price.
"But I have no problem obeying the lockdown and I’m glad it’s extended. It’s essential."
It comes as cooped-up Brits prepare for their first taste of freedom in months this weekend - with pubs, restaurants hotels and hairdressers to reopen on Saturday
But as Leicester stays shut, thousands of thirsty locals will have to wait two more weeks for their long-awaited pint.
The city has been packed and we are now being punished for those idiots not abiding by the rules.
Vina Chaudhry
Marley Richards, 21, fumed: "I’m going to go mad! I can’t stay locked away for any longer.
"I’ve been looking forward so much to having my hair done at the weekend and going for a drink with my mates and now it’s all off."
Testers swooped in to help track the city's spread yesterday with members of the military ramping up tests in mobile units at Spinney Hill Park and Evington Leisure Centre.
Anyone with symptoms has been urged to get tested.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "concerned about Leicester".
"I want to stress to people that we are not out of the woods yet," he warned.
“If further action is needed then of course we are willing to take it.”
'PERFECT STORM'
North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen said that Leicester was a "perfect storm
He said the city had younger people who are less likely to comply with lockdown restrictions, a large ethnic minority population, multi-generational households and large food processing and garment industries.
The Conservative MP told BBC Radio 5 Live that the garment industry should have been in lockdown, but workers had carried on.
Mr Bridgen added: "What we have seen in Leicester is a perfect storm really, you have got a city which has generally got younger people living in it.
";We know younger people have been less likely to comply with lockdown rules.
"We have got the biggest ethnic minority population of any city, so you have multi-generational households where the young people have probably been out socialising in breach of the lockdown.
"On top of that there is quite a substantial food processing industry.
"And on top of that you have got a very large garment industry which should have locked down which my sources are telling me have worked for internet retailers who have been very busy during the lockdown and they have carried on working as well."
Councillor Rashmikant Joshi said his North Evington ward had the highest number of new cases - accounting for 200 of the more than 800 infections.
A huge block party had only just been held in the area last weekend.
And according to the 2011 Census, Leicester's houses are the most overcrowded.
Councillor Joshi said: "We have a lot of inter-generational households, where young people live with their grandparents. South Asians also tend to live in larger family groups, which increases the risk of infection.
"Since the easing of the lockdown, a lot of youngsters have been going out more and not maintaining social distance. There's a high chance that they came home and passed on the virus to elderly relatives."
No10 suggested the local lockdown would see businesses, schools and hospitals closed.
A spokesman said: "They can impose temporary closures of public spaces, businesses and venues. Local healthcare facilities also have powers or just the ability to, for instance, stop admissions to hospitals should that be required.
"I think in the past we have discussed closing down schools or groups of schools, and limiting admissions to health facilities.
"If there were a particular business or premise that were linked to an outbreak, close that down."
Popular salon owner Indy Burmi said: "We are trying to stay positive and we understand why this is happening but the Government is scaremongering people.
"We just need to know, black or white, what is happening. They are losing credibility."
Indi, who employs 20 stylists at his two salons in the city centre and nine miles away in Quorn, Leics, added: "We were expecting to re-open on Saturday and have clients booked in.
"But now no one knows what’s happening. It's a nightmare. It is not only draining as financially but mentally. "
The Sun Online can reveal the coronavirus outbreak is thought to have first emerged in the east of the city centre.
Ethically Sourced Products in Spinney Hills, which makes designer Fred Perry polo shirts, has had five positive cases of Covid-19 out of a 50-strong workforce.
Sainsbury’s has also had seven staff members succumbing to virus symptoms across two stores nearby.
Locals said they believed the ‘outbreak’ is centred around the North Evington and Highfields areas, in the north east of the city.
They are known for being densely populated - with rows of red brick terraced houses. Mobile testing units have been set up nearby.
'NOT SURPRISED BY OUTBREAK'
An ex-worker of Ethically Sourced Products, who quit the company earlier this month, said: "I’m not surprised by this outbreak."
Managing Director Richard Olley declined to comment when approached by The Sun Online.
Meanwhile Sainsbury’s has suffered suspected virus outbreaks at two premises - three cases at a superstore at Melton Road and five at city centre Humberstone Gate.
A local councillor suggested the rise in cases could be due to a language barrier - with messages on social distancing not being understood.
Leicester Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said a "hastily cobbled together" email sent from Government officials at 1am recommending that the city should stay 'under current lockdown’ for another fortnight, had left him "angry and frustrated" as he didn’t know what advice to give worried businesses.
Language barriers
LANUGAGE barriers among Leicester’s Asian community could be one factor behind the city’s coronavirus spike, a local politician has said.
City councillor Ratilal Govind said he thought a lack communication with people who do not speak English as a first language could be one factor behind the increasing numbers.
Some 49 per cent of Leicester’s 340,000 population is of Asian heritage or from black backgrounds while in east Leicester that figure is around two thirds.
“I have seen young people getting together, having a few drinks and conversation,” the Labour councillor
“They are just social gatherings. With these young people there is a language barrier. They are speaking their own language and I tell them to disperse in Gujarati.
“There is a lack of communication made worse by the language barriers.”
He fumed his city was being "picked on" warning a local lockdown would not work.
He said: "It's very unclear of what difference they would make and why you would do it, how it would possibly make any difference.
"If the virus is out of control or is spreading with the restrictions, I can't see how extending them for a further two weeks would make any difference to that.
"We need to be convinced that there is a case for doing that."
But MP for Leicester East, Claudia Webbe, actively called for her constituency to be locked down and for her constituents to stay home, saying schools and a supermarkets have had to close because the virus is "out of control".
She said "We know the problem is in Leicester and we need to follow the data and continue the lockdown to save lives."
But the Labour MP slammed the Government for sending out "unclear messages."
The UK's coronavirus death toll has risen to 43,575 after 25 more deaths were confirmed today.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Earlier this month Sage documents revealed that local lockdowns could see violence and social unrest erupt.
Experts from Keele University warned it could "undermine the consensus that has been built on the need for restrictive measures and lead to significant issues of disorder".
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