Melton residents urged to remain ‘cautious’ as lockdown eases today

A sign on Burton Road bridge flagging up a Covid-19 test site in Melton EMN-210323-104937001

Leicestershire County Council’s director of public health says the new figures are ‘welcome news’ while re-iterating a ‘stay cautious’ message as non-essential shops, leisure centres and hairdressers reopen and pubs, restaurants and cafes begin serving customers in outdoor areas once more.

Mike Sandys said: “The fall in rates is really welcome news and, while we’re definitely getting on top of the pandemic, there’s still a way to go, but all the pointers are definitely in the right direction.

“The county is starting to open up again - but the effect will also be more people being out and about - so please stay sensible and vigilant and follow the basics around hands, face, space and fresh air.”

Latest statistics show there were 25 new Covid cases in the Melton borough in the week to April 7, which is just 49 per 100,000 people, representing a major drop in rates from peak periods in the pandemic.

Elsewhere in the county, Harborough’s rate has fallen by nearly 50 per cent in seven days, with no-one aged over 65 in that district believed to have been infected since March 26.

There also haven’t been any positive cases among the over-60s in Blaby district and north-west Leicestershire, which have had high rates in the past.

Lockdown easing measures in the Melton borough from today:

• Non-essential shops reopen, along with hairdressers;

• Hospitality businesses can serve customers in outside areas;

• Waterfield Leisure Centre and Melton Sports Village reopen (sessions must be pre-booked);

• Melton Library is back open for browsing and taking away books from Monday - with extensive work going on behind the scenes to make them as safe as possible with one-way systems, restrictions on numbers so that people can socially distance and returned books being removed from circulation for up to 72 hours before going back on to the shelves;

• Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are permitted for up to 15 people, with receptions and celebrations also able to take place outside, with the same limit on numbers in place;