Covid-19: UK is ‘not imposing local restrictions’ following confusion over advice

Last Friday, the government quietly posted guidance online without letting local authorities know –  that eight areas in England needed to restrict socialising and travel to contain the spread of the Covid B.1617.2 mutation, also known as the Indian variant.

Now in the last few minutes, the government has withdrawn that guidance, adding to a day of confusion and U-turn.

We report from Leicester, which has suffered some of the harshest restrictions over the past year.