Lockdown confusion as Manchester MP says 'inbox is full of questions I can't answer'

coronavirus cases spiked there, despite concern expressed by the council's leader. The whole of Greater Manchester is currently facing additional measures - in force for more than a fortnight - which prohibit two households from meeting in each other's homes or gardens to reduce the number of coronavirus cases.

A Manchester teenager said she 'fell into' a story she had written when she was rejected from her first choice of university.Jess Johnson, 18, won an award for writing a dystopian fiction about an algorithm that sorted students into bands based on class.But she said it was 'ironic' to find out that her grades were not what she expected after exams were cancelled this year.Jess, a student at Ashton Sixth Form College in Greater Manchester, needed an A in English to earn a place at St Andrews.But

straight to your inboxJadon Sancho is a man in demand.The Borussia Dortmund winger enjoyed a fantastic season in the Bundesliga and looked ready to return home with Manchester United.Unfortunately, the two sides failed to reach an agreement after sporting director Michael Zorc imposed a deadline on the deal, and the chances of Sancho joining Manchester United imminently have faded slightly.The player himself has been nothing but professional throughout, and the weekend saw him dazzle supporters

published by NHS England, includes hospital discharges from March 20,  the first day of national lockdown, until August 9.

Up to 6,000 children who normally would have been referred to social services in Greater Manchester have potentially been missed during lockdown.Social care professionals are calling for a change in approach to tackle the ‘hidden harm’ faced by children who are stuck at home with abusive family members while schools remain closed.Alison Alexander, the CEO of children’s services support organisation Cornerstone, said referrals have dropped in many parts of the UK by 50pc, and by up to 75pc in

The number of people to have tested positive for coronavirus in Bolton has increased for a fourth week in a row – but the mayor of Greater Manchester says a full local lockdown of the region is not yet necessary.There were 27.1 positive tests of COVID-19 per 100,000 people in the borough in the seven days up to August 8, rising from 23 the week before.Bolton is following the general trend in Greater Manchester – although Oldham has shot up to 108.8 and Wigan remains much lower at 7.3.The

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has called on the government NOT to send Oldham into full lockdown to stamp out rising coronavirus cases – as he warned there is a danger to ‘overreact’ to the numbers.Oldham council stated on Wednesday that three weeks of increasing cases in the borough mean that it could soon become subject to a Leicester-style lockdown, with shops, pubs and businesses forced to close.There has been a spike of 255 cases in the week up to August 8 – almost double the

measures were introduced across Greater Manchester last week following rising rates of confirmed coronavirus cases, banning people from different households from mixing in homes and private gardens. Residents have also been told not to meet indoors at pubs, bars and restaurants, although up to six people from different households - or larger groups from only two households - may still meet in beer gardens and outdoor dining areas.

Local MPs have urged the government to reconsider its decision to impose new measures on the borough but the region’s mayor has warned that a spike could happen at any moment.

announced new lockdown measures for Greater Manchester on Thursday night, confusion followed.That focused to a large extent on what exactly the measures were - but also the reasoning. Many have questioned the rationale for the new limits, from the geographical footprint to the timing and the data that triggered the move.

despite Greater Manchester's rising infection rates.The Prime Minister has said that shielding will still end this weekend despite the local lockdown - for everyone except those in Blackburn or Darwen and other high risk areas of the country. But people in Greater Manchester who have been shielding told the Manchester Evening News they would either continue as they were - or venture out reluctantly only because they no longer have the Government's protection and have to go to work.

At today’s Downing Street press conference on the ramped-up coronavirus measures announced for much of the north, Boris Johnson addressed the question of messaging.Until a vaccine emerges, he said, ‘the only real utensil we have for controlling the spread of this new virus is human behaviour’.“And the only way we can encourage people to behave in one way or another is through advice…We need to keep it as simple as we possibly can.”And yet what Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and East

hereIt comes three days after Oldham council announced that restrictions on socialising and visiting other people’s homes were being reintroduced following a spike of 119 new cases in the borough.Reacting to the latest news, leader Sean Fielding said he was supportive of the measures being brought back by government but criticised the way they were communicated.“There is real concern about the way that it was announced, both the timing and lack of clarity,” he added.“The amount of confusion and

Andy Burnham has pressed the government for more clarity on businesses with outdoor seating areas and gatherings outside.

Manchester Evening News Facebook page: "Doesn’t seem fair that we can go to pubs restaurants and shop amongst people we have never met but cannot see our loved ones who we know have followed all the previous rules." Jo Rowbotham said: "So I can go to Alton Towers with thousands of random people, but not have my brother round for a piece of our should have been our wedding day cake tomorrow?"No wonder people are ignoring lockdown, it's madness."Alex Aspin said: "It’s very clear where you can