Businesses have been told some restrictions will be lifted in Leicester from next Thursday, although elements of the local lockdown will continue.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said some non-essential businesses would be allowed to open their doors again even though coronavirus rates in the city remained higher than some other areas.
However pubs, bars, restaurants and hairdressers will stay closed, adding to the economic problems being faced by hundreds of businesses in the city.
He also said some areas on the edge of the city 鈥 including the villages of Birstall, Thurmaston and Glenfield 鈥 would be released from lockdown.
Mr Hancock said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e now in a position to relax some but not all of the restrictions that were in place.
鈥淔rom July 24 we鈥檒l be removing the restrictions on schools and early years childcare and taking a more targeted approach to the restrictions on non-essential retail.
鈥淩estrictions like those for travel and only having social gatherings of up to six people, for example, will remain in force.
鈥淎nd measures introduced on July 4 like reopening the hospitality sector will also not yet apply.
鈥淪ome say that the local lockdown is unnecessary. I wish this were true, but sadly it remains vital for the health of everyone in Leicester and the rest of the country that these restrictions stay in place.
鈥淲e will review them again in a fortnight. I hope that this careful easing of restrictions will provide some comfort to people in Leicester and Leicestershire.
鈥淎nd I鈥檇 say this directly to the people of Leicester and of Leicestershire: I pay tribute to you all.
鈥淵our perseverance and your hard work has brought real and tangible results and you鈥檝e shown respect for one another.鈥
Shadow health secretary and Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth criticised the Government for delays in bringing in the original lockdown but welcomed extra testing in Leicester and paid tribute to those living in the city for their efforts during 17 weeks of restrictions.
He told the House of Commons: 鈥淚f we still have to make further personal sacrifice to keep people safe and hunt this virus down with the lockdown, then so be it.
鈥淏ut there鈥檚 no question there will be a degree of dismay across the city in response to the Secretary of State鈥檚 remarks.鈥
Mr Ashworth said many businesses would want to know if they can get extra support if they cannot reopen.
He also called on Mr Hancock to ensure people in the city who have booked foreign holidays which they can鈥檛 go on would be reimbursed.
And he asked how official investigations into allegations of factory sweatshops forcing people to work in unsafe conditions were going.
He said: 鈥淎nd of course, there has been widespread speculation about the garment industry.
鈥淐an he tell us how many HSE inspections and how many HMRC inspections have now taken place in Leicester鈥檚 textile factories, particularly since the Home Secretary a couple of weeks ago promised us she would stamp out any illegal exploitation?鈥
Mr Hancock responded that he announced that 鈥渁ll unnecessary social contact should cease鈥 at the right time in March.
On calls to reimburse Leicester families for missed holidays, he said: 鈥淥f course I would urge holiday companies that people in Leicester have booked with to reimburse people in Leicester who might have booked a holiday at this point.
Mr Hancock added: 鈥淚 think we across the whole House would strongly support action to ensure that illegal, insecure work is stamped out.
鈥淭he Home Secretary is taking action where that is appropriate, but of course, the public health response is vital.鈥
