The Government is below rising strain to offer readability on journey restrictions in eight areas of England worst affected by the Indian variant of coronavirus.
Guidance on the Government’s web site mentioned the general public ought to keep away from travelling out and in of areas the place the variant is rising quickest “until it’s important”.
The change to the steerage seems to have been made on (*21*) with out an official announcement, prompting criticism from MPs.
The steerage says travelling for work or schooling is taken into account important journey. It covers the areas ruled by Bedford Borough Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Bolton Metropolitan Council and Burnley Borough Council. Also included are Kirklees Council, Leicester City Council, the London Borough of Hounslow and North Tyneside Council.
Layla Moran, chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus, mentioned updating the steerage and not using a correct announcement “is a recipe for confusion and uncertainty”.
Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, mentioned she was gobsmacked: “They’re making such an essential announcement they usually do not even have the decency to inform us or inform our constituents.”