‘You can’t blame students for spreading it if they don’t know they’ve got it’

PUBLIC health officials are yet to be told of new lockdown restrictions which could be imposed by the Government later this week.

The deputy leader of Nottingham City Council, Sally Longford, said they expect to be informed of any potential restrictions at the same time as the public.

Councillor Longford, who is also chairwoman of Nottingham’s Outbreak Control committee, said that although the rates of infection were growing in most parts of the city broadly in line with the rest of the country, areas such as Lenton were behind the city’s overall sharp rise in cases.

She said clear communication from the Government about which geographical area the restrictions apply to was essential for the city.

Speaking yesterday, she said: “I don’t think there’s any desire to lock down like we did before, but I think we can expect there to be more restrictions on who we can see and what we can do.”

Councillor Longford is the Labour councillor for Lenton and Wollaton East, one of the areas with the highest numbers of infections, and a large student population.

“It was always going to be very difficult when we have so many thousands of students coming from around the world,” she added.

“You can’t blame students for spreading it if they don’t know they have got it, if their health is good and they’re asymptomatic.”

Asked whether the situation was causing strain between students in Lenton and permanent residents in the area, she said: “I think it’s putting a strain on everyone.”

But she added that apart from a couple of high-profile cases, most students had been following the rules, and there had been a sharp fall in the number of house parties being reported in her area.

“Unfortunately young people don’t always listen. You have got to be realistic,” she said. “A lot of these young people are experiencing living independently for the first time.

“It’s a fact that young people feel more invulnerable and they don’t always respect the rules.”