Downing Street on Tuesday (25 May) denied trying to impose local lockdowns "by stealth" after several local authorities and their respective MPs said the changes, published quietly on 14 May, came without warning or consultation.
Initially, people living in Bolton, Blackburn, Kirkless, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside were advised to avoid all non-essential travel.
This was later amended to ask people to minimise travel in and out of their local areas. Additionally, people have been asked to strictly observe social distancing of two metres and meet people from other households outdoors.
