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Furious locals in Britain s eight Indian variant hotspots have claimed they only found out about the travel ban today as they lamented being forced to cancel long-awaited trips and family reunions at the last minute.
Updated Covid guidance brought in without any warning has urged people not to visit Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside.
It was published by Downing Street on Friday, and asked for an extra cautious approach in areas that have been hit hardest by the Indian variant of Covid-19.
Ministers were today hammered by MPs for imposing local lockdowns by the back door , with Labour branding the sudden shift upsetting and insulting .
Downing Street says there will be no extra support for hospitality and other businesses in hotspot areas manchestereveningnews.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from manchestereveningnews.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Coronavirus LIVE updates as Bolton hit with new travel guidance - and local leaders call for clarity
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The government is being urged to clarify new guidance that advises against all but essential travel in eight Covid hotspots, including Bolton, that have seen significant case numbers of the Indian variant.
Further guidance covering Bolton, Leicester, Kirklees, Hounslow, Bedford, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley and North Tyneside was issued on the government website on Friday afternoon.
Leaders in Indian variant hotspots have said local lockdowns are not in place after confusion over Government issued guidance to avoid “non-essential” travel out of eight areas in England. Earlier a Cabinet minister told people “don’t travel to and from Hounslow” and the seven other areas unless it is an essential journey - to stop the spread of the Covid-19 variant. But a joint statement issued by directors of public health in Burnley, Bedford,.
Calls for clarity after Covid hotspot advice updated
Parts of England are under new guidance on travel (Danny Lawson/PA)
The Government has been accused of “incompetence” after advising against all but essential travel in eight areas of England where the Covid variant first identified in India is spreading fastest.
Officials said areas including Bolton, Leicester, Kirklees and the London borough of Hounslow were hardest hit and people there should not meet indoors.
People should avoid travelling into and out of the eight areas, with Bedford, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley and North Tyneside also on the list. People in the eight areas should also be tested twice a week, according to the Government advice.