Oldham escapes threat of local lockdown

Oldham can breathe a sigh of relief from behind their protective mask today after the Government announced it wasn’t going to impose a local lockdown on the town.

After days of discussions between Councillors, the town’s three MPs and Cabinet Office officials, it was announced earlier on Friday morning (21st August) that the measures, similar to those brought into Leicester a few weeks ago, won’t be brought into Oldham.

The Leader of the Council, Sean Fielding, had warned a local lockdown could have been “really catastrophic” for businesses in Oldham, many of whom have installed social distancing measures to help keep them open.

However, their future was thrown into jeopardy when areas of the town such as Alexandra Park and Werenth reported a large number of new Coronavirus cases.

Then earlier this week it was announced that new Covid19 cases had spread to Saddleworth.

 

***BREAKING***

We have reached agreement with the Government that Oldham will not go in to full local economic lockdown. Some additional restrictions will be introduced, however. More to follow... pic.twitter.com/AUO3PeHOCI

— Sean Fielding (@cllrsfielding) August 21, 2020

While Oldham have escaped a full local lockdown, there have been new measures imposed on the town in a bid to try and curb the spread of the virus.

These restrictions include people not being able to meet up with other households and only using public transport for essential travel.

Reacting to the news, Oldham West and Royton MP, Jim McMahon said: “A widespread economic lockdown would have been wrong.

“Far from helping to defeat the virus it would have diluted resources and needlessly closed businesses which were not a factor in the spread of the virus.

“Still difficult restrictions, but better than what could have been.”

Should the lockdown have been brought in it would’ve meant people staying in their homes, businesses closing and the streets of Oldham being deserted. Parks and beer gardens would’ve also been closed.

It’s understood the Government’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty wanted to put the town into lockdown after figures revealed a new case rate of 100 per 100,000 people, however more recent figures show that has now dropped to 80 per 100,000 people.

 

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.