Trafford were expected to be allowed to visit friends and family in their homes and gardens again following an announcement by the government that social distancing measures were being relaxed.
The move came despite a spike in cases in the borough over the last seven days, which has seen the infection rate rise to three times the national average.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, council leader Andrew Western and Trafford's director of public health Eleanor Roaf all urged the government to keep the restrictions in place.
And this afternoon Health Secretary Matt Hancock bowed to the pressure and ordered Trafford to stay under lockdown.Perhaps not surprisingly, the U-turn led to confusion.
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