As part of the next phase of easing restrictions, local lockdowns will come into place in the future to tackle region outbreaks

On Tuesday’s daily briefing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested that localised restrictions could be put in place to prevent flare-ups in the future. The new measures did not specify a timeframe, but it was mentioned they would also form a part of the test, track and trace system.

Mr. Hancock said the government are putting a system in place that will work with Public Health England, a new Joint Biosecurity Centre and local public health directors.

This comes after part of the Prime Minister’s latest plans for further relaxation of lockdown rules last night, the PM has said that he wants to allow more “social contact”.

The Biosecurity Centre is said to identify changes in infection rates using a variety of factors and data. This will then advise chief medical officers, which could lead to action in localised settings.

Robert Jenrick, Communities Secretary, said it would be used on a micro-level. He told the BBC if flare-ups occurred in community areas on a small scale, then measures could be introduced to control the spread.

Professor John Newton, leader of the government’s virus testing programme, also spoke at the briefing. He said that ‘many different organisations’ would be involved. It would include local authorities and businesses. He also added:

“It has a national component, but it has a very important local component as well, which needs to reflect the special characteristics of different parts of the country.”

Last week, the Prime Minister announced that England would have a ‘world-beating’ track and trace system in place from next month.

The number of people in hospital with the virus has started to decrease since the peak over Easter. However, there are still concerns of a second wave as The Telegraph reported a top WHO official in Europe has warned that a second wave of the virus could be more deadly. Speaking with the newspaper, Dr. Hans Kluge warned countries that were easing restrictions that the pandemic is not over.

However, the Express reported that the Director of WHO Maria Neira said that a second wave occurring is

“being increasingly being ruled out as we are much better prepared in all areas.”

Although she also added that organisations should be keeping vigilant because Covid-19 is showing the signs of “a virus that wants to survive.”

Dominated by Cumming’s questions

Despite the measures being announced, the briefing was dominated by questions about the recent lockdown blunder by Dominic Cummings.

He has been heavily criticised for travelling with his family during the lockdown and subsequently making a trip to the market town of Barnard Castle. However, it was reported he said he did what he thought was the “the smallest risk to the smallest number of people.”

The Prime Minister is also facing scrutiny from inside his own party and the public after standing by his explanation.

This comes after a Conservative Member of Scottish Parliament has resigned following Dominic Cummings’ trips while the nation is still in lockdown, putting on more pressure for the top Downing Street aide to lose his job.

In a YouGov poll, 59% of people surveyed said Cummings should resign, and 72% of people thought he had broken the rules. The actions also prompted the resignation of Douglas Ross, MP for Moray, who did not support his reasoning behind the lockdown trip.