Advice for eight areas in England worst-hit by the Indian coronavirus variant has been updated after the government clarified that it was not imposing local restrictions.
There was confusion after guidance was published earlier covering Bolton, Blackburn, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside.
It had asked people not to meet indoors or travel unnecessarily.
The updated advice asks people to minimise, rather than avoid, travel.
A government spokesperson said it wanted to "make it clearer we are not imposing local restrictions" in areas where the new variant is spreading.
"Instead, we are providing advice on the additional precautions people can take to protect themselves and others in those areas where the new variant is prevalent," the spokesperson said.
"This includes, wherever possible, trying to meet outdoors rather than indoors, keeping two metres apart from anyone you don't live with and minimising travel in and out of the area."
The statement followed 24 hours of confusion which began when it emerged that advice specifically for the eight areas had been published several days ago without any government announcement.
It prompted a denial from Downing Street that it was imposing local lockdowns by stealth.
The prime minister's official spokesman said the government wanted to encourage the public "to exercise their good judgement", rather than issuing "top-down edicts".
Several of the local authorities affected by the new advice said they had not been consulted about it and only learned of its existence through media reports.
On Tuesday afternoon, local councils for the eight areas - which together represent more than two million people - emerged from a meeting with government officials and insisted there were no restrictions on travel in their areas and "no local lockdowns".
They said they are working to increase vaccination and testing - with Kirklees the latest area to announce door-to-door testing - as well as to support people self-isolating.
"There are sensible public health precautions people can take as individuals in line with the sorts of advice we have all been following throughout the pandemic," the councils said.
Greater Manchester's Labour mayor Andy Burnham said the confusion over the advice was a "major communications error" which had a "major effect on people's lives".
Norma Redfearn, Labour mayor of North Tyneside, said "after a day of confusion" it had been confirmed the area was "at the same stage of the road map as the rest of the country".
Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the messaging had been "completely contradictory" at a time "when clarity is everything".
He said: "If you've got a holiday booked for half term next week, does the government want you to cancel it or not? If you've got a wedding organised, do you have to cancel your wedding now?"
Bolton Council's Conservative leader David Greenhalgh said there had been a "fear" the town would be singled out for a local lockdown.
He said: "As long as they follow the guidance I don't believe residents in Bolton should be cancelling holidays."
Overall cases of Covid are at their highest rate for six months in Bolton, at 452.1 cases per 100,000 people. The Royal Bolton Hospital said it would take "urgent action" to manage an increase in Covid patients.
Meanwhile, the UK reported 15 new deaths within 28 days of a positive test and 2,493 new confirmed cases. Tuesday's figures for reported deaths are sometimes higher due to weekend reporting delays.
The original guidance, published on a page titled "what you can and cannot do", advised people in the eight areas of England to:
- Meet outside rather than inside where possible
- Keep two metres apart from people who you do not live with (unless you have formed a support bubble with them), this includes friends and family you don't live with
- Avoid travelling in and out of affected areas unless it is essential, for example for work (if you cannot work from home) or education
It was first published on 14 May to cover Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen and Bedford, before being updated to include the six other areas on Friday.
But Mohammad Yasin, Labour MP for Bedford and Kempston, questioned why there was no announcement, calling it "guidance, which astonishingly no-one was actually guided to".
"Why put out advice, then tell people they don't have to follow it? Surely these restrictions are needed or they are not?" he said.
Following a meeting with government officials, some of the local councils said they hoped the advice would be withdrawn.
Wendy Burke, director of public health for North Tyneside Council, told BBC Radio Newcastle "we think it would be helpful if it was removed", adding that it was "very, very confusing".
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2021-05-25 22:48:08Z
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