OXFORD City Council's leader has criticised the Government for 'dithering' leading to the extension of Covid restrictions, but called for residents to follow them.

Current Covid measures are due to stay in place until July 19, an extension to the final stage of the roadmap for unlocking announced by Boris Johnson this week.

At the government briefing on Monday, Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty emphasised removing the last restrictions at this stage would give the virus a huge advantage over the vaccine roll-out, allowing much faster transmission while millions still have no protection.

Now Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, has issued a message to residents of the city calling on them to follow the guidelines.

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She said: “I know this is a frustrating time for many, but we have to take responsible decisions to manage the current situation, and I support the extension of restrictions to manage the Delta variant. But I want to be clear that responsibility for the current situation lies with the government. Yet again they dithered when decisive action was needed, rather than act quickly to restrict people coming into the UK from countries where the Delta variant was prevalent."

She added she was worried about hospitality businesses including those who are still shut as well as those who 'had been relying on the next reopening to start fully covering costs and begin turning a profit', and called for people to visit them and support them.

Ms Brown called on the Government to 'do more' to support businesses, especially as furlough and other financial support is beginning to wind down.