KIRKLEES is among eight places across the country where people are being urged against all but essential travel in and out of the area.

It's in a bid to bring the Indian variant of Covid-19 under control, with Kirklees one of the areas where it is spreading the fastest.

Latest figures show it has the fourth highest infection rate in the country, behind  Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen and Bedford.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

The other areas identified are: Bedford Borough Council; Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council; Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council; Burnley Borough Council; Leicester City Council; London Borough of Hounslow; North Tyneside Council. 

The Government advice states: "The new Covid-19 variant spreads more easily from person to person. To help stop the spread, you should take particular caution when meeting anyone outside your household or support bubble.

"In the areas listed above, wherever possible, you should try to:

  • meet outside rather than inside where possible
  • keep 2 metres apart from people that you don’t 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
  • You should also:
  • Get tested twice a week for free and isolate if you are positive
  • Continue to work from home if you can
  • Get vaccinated when you are offered it, and encourage others to do so as well
  • You should get tested for Covid-19. This includes:
  • Arranging to have a PCR test if you have symptoms of Covid-19
  • Participating in surge testing in your local area
  • Getting regular rapid tests if you do not have symptoms of coronavirus
  • You should self-isolate immediately if you have symptoms or a positive test result for Covid-19. There is financial support if you’re off work because of coronavirus.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus has called on the Government to provide “urgent clarity” on the guidance.

The guidance appears to have been changed last week without an official announcement and Layla Moran, who chairs the APPG on Coronavirus, said this risked causing “confusion and uncertainty”.

She said: “This is a major change to policy that will have a huge impact on people’s lives. Simply updating the Government website without an official announcement is a recipe for confusion and uncertainty.

“Local people and public health leaders in these areas need urgent clarity from the Government. Matt Hancock must come before Parliament and make a public statement to explain these new rules.

“It seems crucial lessons have still not been learnt about the importance of clear messaging during a pandemic.”