The re-imposition of lockdown controls on Leicester is the first test of that approach and indications are not encouraging. Local authorities say the latter data set, processed by commercial labs, is either not reaching them or not providing sufficient granularity to allow even an approximation of real-time monitoring. When asked in parliament last week how local authorities should manage sudden throngs of people in popular locations, his reply was that they should “show some guts”. Our view of the local contours of the pandemic is hazy because the national response has been haphazard. National government might not be able to eliminate that threat but it can help local authorities to protect themselves promptly.

Source: The Guardian July 01, 2020 17:48 UTC