Warning over fake Covid wardens operating in area
GENUINE OFFICERS ‘WILL ALWAYS PRODUCE OFFICIAL IDENTIFICATION WITH A PHOTOGRAPH’
THERE are warnings that fake Covid wardens have been operating in the area.
North East Lincolnshire Council says there have been a number of reports of people claiming to be in the new roles approaching members of the public and knocking on residents’ doors.
It comes after it was recently announced that a team of Covid wardens will continue to patrol streets around the borough in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The 14 support assistants are not enforcement officers and do not issue fines or penalty notices.
The council says their officers will always produce official identification with a photograph, the NELC logo and details of the officer’s role and will never ask for a fee.
Businesses are also being informed they can obtain free guidance from the council to make sure their business is Covid secure by submitting a request via the authority’s website at www.nelincs.gov.uk/ coronavirus
The council has created a range of printed materials including posters
and vinyl floor stickers that are free for businesses to use. There is also a digital toolkit with further electronic resources to use. The materials can be downloaded from www.nelincs. gov.uk/business-support
People can use the “report it” form at www.nelincs.gov.uk/coronavirus to tell the council about businesses that are not following the Covid-19 secure guidelines.
New tighter restrictions could be rolled out in the coming days after
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the “nation faces a tipping point”.
In a televised briefing yesterday morning, England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, warned there would be around 50,000 cases and 200 deaths a day by November if the current infection rate continues.
Warning the issue of increasing infection risk will likely continue well into next year, Professor Whitty said: “The seasons are against us. We are now going into the seasons ... that benefit respiratory viruses.”
He explained that it’s very likely Covid will benefit from autumn and winter and it will be a “six-month problem that we will have to deal with collectively”.
It’s reported Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address the nation later this week to reveal plans to stem the rise in Covid cases.