The government has updated its advice for areas worst-affected by COVID following ‘confusion‘ over what people can and cannot do.
Official guidelines are now asking residents in the likes of Bolton – where the more infectious variant is spreading fastest – to ‘minimise’ travel rather than avoid it altogether.
People in COVID hotspots should also “meet outside rather than inside” according to current rules.
The guidance is not law, and health officials in Bolton have since confirmed “there are no local lockdowns”.
There had been calls for ministers to clarify rules after The Manchester Evening News broke a story on Monday evening (May 24) that revealed official guidance for high-risk areas had been quietly edited online the previous Friday.
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The new advice urged residents to avoid gatherings and only travel if ‘essential’, but was not accompanied by an announcement.
Local leaders in Bolton were unaware of the changes, with Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi saying she was “angry and upset” for her constituents who were looking at cancelling holidays and returning to work from home.
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Bolton Council leader David Greenhalgh says after speaking with the government, Public Health England and NHS colleagues to clarify the situation and NO local lockdown will be coming to the town.
— ITV Granada Reports (@GranadaReports) May 25, 2021
A press conference on Tuesday saw Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham emphasise that he did not want to see Bolton in regional restrictions. He also sympathised with residents who thought the situation looked like a “local lockdown by stealth”.
Bolton Council leader David Greenhalgh added: “As long as they follow the guidance I don’t believe residents in Bolton should be cancelling holidays.”
Helen Lowey, Director of Public Health, Bolton Council also issued a statement that read: “Following the national coverage of recently revised COVID – 19 guidance, we have met with national officials and confirmed there are no restrictions on travel in or out of each of our areas: There are no local lockdowns.
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“In areas where the new COVID variant is spreading, we are all working together to boost testing, vaccinations and to support self-isolation.
“There are sensible public health precautions that people can take as individuals in line with the advice we have all been following throughout the pandemic.
“We will keep sharing that and working with national officials to make sure people understand what they need to think about as they go about their daily lives.”
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
Bolton
Appeal launched after dead dog found floating in popular beauty spot
Daisy Jackson
The RSPCA has launched an appeal after a dog was found dead in a Greater Manchester beauty spot.
The young Staffordshire Bull Terrier was discovered by a passerby in the water at Jumbles Reservoir in Bolton late last month.
The poor animal, who was a dark brindle/black colour with white markings, had signs of blunt force trauma to the head, and a prolapsed eye.
She had been in the reservoir for no more than two days but it’s not known whether she was alive or dead before she was found on 29 November.
The RSPCA is now asking the public to come forward with any information relating to the suspicious circumstances surrounding the dog’s death.
The passerby who found the dog at Jumbles Country Park took her to a vet, who contacted the RSCPA with concerns about her condition.
Due to the level of decomposition, it wasn’t possible to complete a more detailed examination but her death does appear to be suspicious.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Lee Ferrans, who is looking into the incident, said: “Unfortunately this poor dog wasn’t microchipped so we haven’t been able to gather any further information that way.
“She’d suffered what looks like blunt force trauma to the head area, as one eye was prolapsed, but there was no sign of scuffing on her nails which could have pointed to a possible road traffic accident.
“We’d like to thank the kind member of the public for taking the action they did as this would have been an incredibly upsetting sight to come across. For the owners to seemingly dump their pet’s body in this way is appalling.
“We’d appeal to anyone who was in the area at that time and saw suspicious activity or has information that could help our investigation, to get in touch.”
The public can ring the RSPCA appeals line number on 0300 123 8018, quoting incident number 01400488.
WARNING – DISTRESSING – Image of the dog found at Jumbles
DISTRESSING – Image of a dead dog found at Jumbles Reservoir in Bolton. Credit: RSPCA
Featured image: Geograph, David Dixon
Bolton
This is why Danny Jones isn’t getting a cash prize for winning I’m A Celeb
Emily Sergeant
It’s official, Danny Jones is the King of the I’m A Celeb jungle for 2024… but he won’t be taking a cash prize home with him.
In case you haven’t been watching, the finale of ITV‘s smash-hit reality show, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Here! aired last night, and it was Bolton‘s very own McFly band member, Danny Jones, who won the hearts of the nation and took home the coveted crown, but despite his flashy new title, a cash prize doesn’t come along with it.
Danny entered the final of I’m A Celeb last night alongside fellow campmates Coleen Rooney, who came in second, and Reverend Richard Coles who took third place.
The singer-songwriter seemed to have emerged as a fan favourite early on in the series, and was publicly praised by viewers on social media throughout, especially for tackling his trials and responsibilities, and after opening up about his ongoing battle with anxiety.
But after an emotional reunion with his wife Georgia and little boy Cooper during last Friday’s episode (6 December), he cemented himself as a frontrunner to win.
After being announced as the King of the Jungle last night, Danny said: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I gave my all in there, it’s a lovely feeling to be liked. Thank you so much, I appreciate this so much.”
Despite everything he put in to clinch the crown, and despite what many viewers seem to think, unlike other similar reality shows such as Love Island and Big Brother, the only winnings Danny will be walking away were agreed prior to him appearing on the show.
I’m A Celeb contestants each agree a fee with their agent for competing on the show before they enter into the jungle, and then, as long as they stay in for a total 72 hours, the money is theirs, even if they withdraw after that time frame.
According to ITV, the 72-hour mark is set to ensure the celebs don’t just bail as soon as they get in there and run off with the money.
While the fees each contestant agreed on this year haven’t been formally confirmed, it’s widely been reported in a number of sources that Danny Jones is being paid a sum of around £100,000 to £150,000 for his time Down Under.
The Manc -
26th May 2021 
