MOVEMENT restrictions could be reintroduced across Leeds due to rising COVID-19 infection rates.

The city’s current seven day infection rate stands at about 47.9 cases per 100,000 people and Leeds has been added to Public Health England’s watch list as an area of concern. Its infection rate is currently the second highest in Yorkshire, behind only Bradford.

Being placed on the watch list doesn’t automatically mean more restrictions will be introduced but Leeds City Council’s chief corporate support officer has warned they will be unless things improve.

Mariana Pexton told the council’s Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board that ‘two very different patterns’ were emerging. She added: “One is community clusters which we are working on and are turning around - Kirkstall has definitely turned around and Harehills is definitely stable now.

“But we have this more dynamic pattern now of young people, across the city. It is more to do with social gatherings, coming back from holiday and exam celebrations.

“We are ramping communications up to tackle that.”

The council and its partners have already taken a string of preventative steps to stay on top of community transmission of the virus - including through targeted community work, mobile testing units and public awareness campaigns.

Civic leaders and public health officials are calling for a community-wide effort to help get the infection rates down. Leeds City Council Leader Councillor Judith Blake, who chairs the Outbreak Control Board, said: “This is a pivotal moment in our efforts to control the spread of the virus in Leeds and to keep our city open.

“Nobody wants to see further restrictions on life in Leeds and we want to assure everyone that we’re doing absolutely everything within our power to avoid that happening.

“But the harsh reality is that if our infection rate continues to rise as it has been, we will be left with no alternative.

“With that in mind, now more than ever we need a collective effort from the people of Leeds who have shown so much resilience and civic pride throughout this crisis.

“It’s up to us all to keep our families, friends and neighbours safe and to play our part in keeping Leeds’s recovery going.”

Local residents are being urged to play their part by:

*Not leaving home if anyone in their household, has COVID-19 symptoms

*Keeping a safe distance from others.

*Washing hands regularly for at least 20 seconds

*Wearing a face covering over your mouth and nose on public transport and in indoor areas.

Anyone who has COVID-19 type symptoms is advised to book a free test at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.