Government must set out whether North East lockdowns will come into force

Responding to news from the Government Office of Science that the coronavirus reproduction (R) rate may have risen above 1 in regions of England, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Sunderland City Council Niall Hodson said:
"With such a variance in reproduction rate of coronavirus across the UK, we desperately need joined up efforts to deliver an effective test, trace and isolate system.

"The Government is asking a lot of the public in Sunderland and across the North East during this crisis, and local people deserve clear, honest answers about how we pull through this together and ensure no one is left behind.

"At present, national data about the virus isn't being shared with local councils - so there is no way to know what the R rate in Sunderland is and whether the Council needs to respond or not. This must change so that local people can know the risks they face in their own communities.

"Ministers must also set out in clear detail whether regional lockdowns will come into force and - if so - how they will be implemented, and who is legally responsible for this process and which areas and regions they would use."