Leicester lockdown relaxed with nail bars and beauty salons allowed to reopen

18.08.2020 16:43

«Metro UK»

However, current restrictions on gatherings in private homes and gardens will remain in place.

The lockdown will be partially lifted from tomorrow (Picture: PA/EMPICS)

There will be a partial relaxation of the lockdown in Leicester from tomorrow, with nail bars, outdoor pools and beauty salons allowed to reopen after a drop in coronavirus cases.

However, current restrictions on gatherings in private homes and gardens will remain in place.

Businesses allowed to reopen include tanning booths, spas, massage and tattoo parlours and body and skin piercing services, while guidance for music venues and theatres to stay closed will be dropped.

Residents in the lockdown area will not be able to meet inside a private home or garden of someone they have not formed a ‘support bubble’ with.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘My gratitude goes out to the people of Leicester who have all made sacrifices to keep the virus at bay and protect their local communities.

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‘The rate of infection has now dropped to a safe enough level to allow further businesses including beauty salons, nail bars and some outdoor venues to reopen in the area.

People wear face masks as a precaution against the transmission of the novel coronavirus as they walk past closed shops in the centre of Leicester, central England on July 17, 2020, as local lockdown restrictions remain in force due to a spike in cases of the novel coronavirus in the city. - Boris Johnson said on July 17 he hoped Britain would — People wear face masks as a precaution as they walk past closed shops in the centre of Leicester (Picture: Getty)

‘Current restrictions on gatherings must remain in place to further bring down the rate of infection.’

It is seven weeks since strict measures came into place putting the East Midlands city into a strict local lockdown.

On June 30, Leicester went back into lockdown after it was revealed that the Covid-19 infection rate had spiralled to 135 cases per 100,000 people.

Following strict social distancing measures, cases have now halved to 67 cases per 100,000.

Reacting to the news that beauty salons in Leicester can reopen, Minal Parmar, the owner of the Beauty Refinery on London Road, said: ‘I’m super excited because we have been closed since March and obviously lost lots of business throughout.

People wearing face masks as a precaution against the transmission of the novel coronavirus shop at an open fruit and vegetable market in Leicester, central England on July 17, 2020, as local lockdown restrictions remain in force due to a spike in cases of the novel coronavirus in the city. - Boris Johnson said on July 17 he hoped Britain would — An open fruit and vegetable market in Leicester (Picture: Getty)

‘I’ve answered so many phone calls from clients during lockdown and I just can’t wait to be open tomorrow.

‘Luckily, we have four treatment rooms so we can take one client at a time in each room. We have PPE too – face masks and we’ve obviously always been using the gloves.

‘Everyone has been affected financially – but I just can’t wait to be open.’

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