WELL IT ISN’T
‘A significant minority believe it is OK to have house parties, hold events with unregulated crowds, ignore the rules...’
NORTH East leaders have issued a stark warning over the worrying spike in Covid-19 cases across the region.
Seven local councils and the North of Tyne mayor have united in urging residents to prevent the virus from getting “out of control” and to avoid the need for a “devastating” second lockdown.
The plea comes after new data showed that coronavirus cases are rising rapidly in the North East.
Gateshead now has the highest rate of infection in the region, with 45.4 cases per 100,000 people – with the borough’s number of cases tripling in a week.
South Tyneside was added to Public Health England’s watchlist late last week, with council officials there warning that the area faced a local lockdown if case numbers did not come down.
The infection rate in Sunderland is more than four times the level it was a week ago, and it has more than doubled in Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland.
In a joint statement, council leaders from Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham, plus mayor Jamie Driscoll, said they were “deeply concerned”.
The spike in positive cases has been seen particularly among young adults and the eight leaders slammed the “significant minority” holding house parties, having
events with “unregulated” crowds, and ignoring social distancing rules.
Here is the council leaders’ statement in full:
“As leaders of the seven North East local authorities we are deeply concerned at the increasing number of positive coronavirus cases we are seeing across the region, particularly among young adults.
“Our councils have been working hard to protect our communities, keep frontline services running, supporting our most vulnerable residents and helping businesses reopen but we must not be complacent.
“We all have to do our bit and to play our part if we are to prevent a potential ential second wave. The impact that would d have on our r health service
and the possibility of an economically-damaging lockdown would be devastating.
“We ask that individuals protect themselves to protect others and to protect our region as well as call on all businesses to make sure their premises and operations are Covidsecure.
“Average cases per day across our local authority areas have doubled in little more than a week and are averaging around 80 per day in the most recent figures – we expect that to go higher in coming days. “Social distancing is still the best defence we have, along with washing g hands for 20 seconds and covering ou our faces when we are asked and required to do so.
“Our Public Health teams have been working tirelessly to track and trace every case but there have been a number of incid dents over the las last few days which mak make this task even more d difficult. “People who have symptoms or are asked to do so by the Health Protection teams must book a test and self-isolate until they have their results.
“Don’t assume, if you are a contact, that a negative test means you are OK – it doesn’t; you could be incubating the virus. If you are asked to self-isolate, it is really important that you do so whatever your test status at the time.
“We have seen cases where individuals with symptoms have had a test, then gone out and infected others before getting their results – reckless and selfish behaviour.
“Businesses also need to comply – that means recording all the information of customers so they can be contacted quickly if there is an outbreak, managing social distancing and ensuring a strict hygiene regime. Failure to do so will leave us with no alternative than to shut those premises down.
“A significant minority believe it is OK to have house parties, hold events with unregulated crowds, ignore the rules – well it isn’t. Household transmission remains the biggest danger.
“By not following the guidance, advice and legislation you are at greater risk of spreading the virus to your own family, which as we have seen can lead to tragic consequences.
“None of us yet know the longterm health impact of Covid 19, while the full social and economic consequences are also yet to play out. What we do know is infection rates are rising quickly. We cannot allow it to get out of control. Please work with us and do your bit to keep our great region safe.”
The statement was signed by councillors Nick Forbes, Glen Sanderson, Martin Gannon, Iain Malcolm, Graeme Miller, and Simon Henig, and mayors Norma Redfearn and Jamie Driscoll.
Average cases per day across our local authority areas have doubled in little more than a week
Council leaders