Restrictions on gatherings for millions of people in northern England and Leicester are to remain in place, the Department of Health has said.
Limits on households meeting up have been in place in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester for at least two weeks to combat rising infections.
Ministers have decided to keep them in place – and cancel a planned easing of lockdown restrictions there that will go ahead in the rest of England.
“This will help protect local residents and allow more time for the changes to have an effect, cutting transmission among households,” the department said.
It added that latest data showed a continued rise in cases in Oldham and Pendle, while numbers remain high in Blackburn with Darwen.
