The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has warned of the Government introducing a "local lockdown by stealth" after a change in Covid-19 guidance "caused confusion".
Mr Burnham told reporters at his regular press conference that Bolton "feels singled out" and that the Government needed to "clear it up, and clear it up quickly".
At the same event, Bolton Council leader Cllr David Greenhalgh said it is a "very challenging time" for the area and that the council will continue to do everything it can.
He added that there had been "a degree of confusion" but after a series of calls with senior officials in Government, Public Health England and the NHS he said "with assuredness" that there is "no added restrictions" coming to Bolton; there is "no local lockdown".
The press conference was being held as the Government was accused of "incompetence" after advising against all but essential travel in eight English areas.
The information appears to have been amended on the Government's 'what you can and cannot do' last Friday at 5.26pm without an official announcement.
The official guidance was updated to advise against all but essential travel in Bolton, Bedford, Blackburn and Darwen, Burnley, Kirklees, Leicester, Hounslow, and North Tyneside, where the Indian variant of Covid is growing fastest.
But many local leaders said on Tuesday they had not been told.
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Cllr Greenhalgh said: "I urge everyone to follow the guidance where they can. Take personal responsibility.
"All our emphasis must be now on the surge vaccinations, surge testing, and the protection of our residents."
Mr Burnham added: "We have been thrown into some confusion overnight and we’ve been trying to make sense of things today.
"Nobody in our system was told about this change. It does have a real impact on people's lives.
"We do need to clear it up, and clear it up quickly."
He also called on the Government to issue a clarification "so that everyone knows exactly where they stand, and there is no room whatsoever for any confusion here".
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The mayor said: "People need to know where they stand." People are going to be very confused about what is being asked of them.
"The Government’s attempts to downplay it aren’t particularly helpful."
Cllr Greenhalgh also added: "People are being asked to make their own decisions. It's the difference between ‘must’ and ‘should’.
"And the guidance is clear for people to act responsibly. It’s asking people to make personal choices, but it is not adding restrictions."
He also said that Bolton residents should not be cancelling their holidays.