AS coronavirus restrictions are eased across the nation, the streets of Leicester remain deserted due to local lockdown.

Now the Government has revealed it intends to review the restrictions to control the coronavirus. But when will the local lockdown end, when did it start, and what are the current restrictions?

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When will the local lockdown end?

A review of Leicester's local lockdown is due on July 18.

In a Government document released about the restrictions, it said: "Restrictions will be put in place pending a review from July 18."

It was announced on July 7 that Leicester will be asked to remain in lockdown for another two weeks, despite the fact the infection rate has fallen.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs that the Government was still looking at the region after an increase in cases forced them to hit the city with a local lockdown.

Asked in the House of Commons when he plans to bring Leicester out of local lockdown, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “What we said when we took the measures just over a week ago is we needed to say 14 days of data.

“We propose to make announcements on the next steps on the 18th of July.

“If further measures are needed in the meantime to tighten up we would take them immediately.”

When did the second lockdown start?

On Monday, June 29, Mr Hancock announced that from Tuesday, June 30, non-essential shops in the city would have to close, and from Thursday, July 2, schools would shut to all but the most vulnerable children.

Mr Hancock said that the decision to close schools on Thursday rather than Tuesday was to give parents time to make suitable childcare preparations.

While the rest of the country opened up on Saturday, July 4, Leicester's pubs, hairdressers, and restaurants had to remain closed.

Officials asked for more time to get the disease under control in Leicester after Public Health England identified 3,216 cases since the start of the epidemic – 944 in the two weeks before lockdown.

What are the current restrictions?

A DHSC document sets out the following changes for a period of local lockdown:

• Non-essential shops that reopened on June 15 were asked to close on June 30
• Bars, restaurants and hairdressers did not reopen on 4 July
• Schools will close from Thursday, July 2, except to vulnerable children and children of key workers. They will not reopen until next term
• The relaxation of shielding measures due on July 6 has not now taken place in Leicester
• Single-adult households (those who live alone or with dependent children only) can still form a support bubble with one other household
• People are still able to meet in a group of up to 6 and only outdoors, provided strict social distancing is followed
• People in Leicester are recommended to stay at home as much as they can
• All but essential travel to, from and within Leicester is advised against

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