WE NEED TO GET TOUGHER
Council leader issues warning over Covid-19 restrictions... and asks if shoppers really need that new bed on click-and-collect
THE North East should face tougher lockdown restrictions amid concerns the threat of coronavirus rates ‘spiralling out of control’ are ‘still very real,’ a council boss said.
It has been reported that lockdown restrictions in the UK could be made even tougher amid concern not enough people are following the rules.
These restrictions could include having to wear face coverings outdoors.
Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, said the risk posed by coronavirus needs to be taken “very seriously”.
He said: “I think we do need to be more restrictive, the levels of infections in hospitals demonstrate that we need to be more restrictive.”
Coun Gannon added that using clickand-collect services to buy non-essential items could be causing problems.
He said: “There’s a number of factors out there resulting in where we are at the present time.
“We need to take the risks very seriously. I’m not convinced buying a new bed on click-and-collect or paint and wallpaper is essential. Don’t go into a shop where restrictions aren’t in place.
“Takeaway should be through a hatch and don’t go inside. I think any mixing particularly with those new variants is going to cause problems.”
Coun Gannon said society needs to take the current restrictions seriously.
He continued: “I think the current restrictions need to be properly enforced, we as a society need to take it seriously. I don’t mean by the police, there’s not enough police to enforce it.”
Coun Gannon insisted these were his views and not those of the other council leaders across the North East.
In a statement released on Thursday, North East directors of public health representing Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, and County Durham, urged people to stay at home as much as possible.
It said infection rates across the region seemed to have stopped rising but it is not clear yet whether they will fall. The directors also warned local hospitals are under “immense pressure” due to increasing numbers of patients becoming seriously ill as a result of the virus.
Coun Gannon also raised concerns that too many children are in school, which could increase the spread of the virus.
He said: “We have got schools in the region where 80% or 90% of parents are saying they qualify as essential or key workers.
“The maximum capacity for Covid security is 20%. Are both parents working at the same time?
“Is there a third adult that can care for the child? We have got to get the balance right of being Covid secure and supporting vulnerable children.”
However, he said parents, often working in insecure employment, are under “huge pressure” to provide for their families.
He called on the Government to provide more financial support to allow people to do the right thing.