‘By refusing to put on a facemask in shops, you are helping to spread an invisible killer’

PLEA FOR PEOPLE TO STICK TO GUIDELINES AFTER AUTHORITIES CRACK DOWN ON BREACHES OF COVID RULES AT BUSINESSES

SHOP workers and customers not wearing face masks are assisting an “invisible killer”, a Burton councillor had said after police carried out checks at premises in the town and issued fines for breaching Covid rules.

County councillor Syed Hussain, who represents the Anglesey area in the town centre, says it is everyone’s responsibility to contribute towards getting out of the coronavirus crisis, as he urged people to stick to the guidelines.

His plea came after staff at nine shops and takeaways across Burton were caught not wearing face masks when police carried out checks. Fines were handed out to two businesses for breaking Covid lockdown rules, while others were given warnings.

Officers, along with Covid marshals from East Staffordshire Borough Council, went out patrolling the streets, going into shops and takeaways to speak with owners and customers after receiving reports of covid breaches from members of the community and shoppers who were worried about a lack of compliance with coronavirus rules.

Staff were warned for not wearing masks at a shop in Uxbridge Street. A Covid breach ticket was handed to the owner of the Balak Shop, in Uxbridge Street, on January 16 and to a man in his 40s for failing to comply with face covering regulations, said a spokesman for Staffordshire police.

That evening, takeaways and shops were visited and people had to be reminded about needing to wear masks in nine shops and takeaways, he said. On January 19, staff were warned for not wearing masks in another shop in Uxbridge Street. And a fixed penalty notice was issued to Desi Spice Takeaway, also in Uxbridge Street, for failing to comply with regulations after police returned for a another visit.

Councillor Hussain said: “I appeal to residents in the areas to keep adhering to social distancing and shopkeepers need to come forward if they need any support for anything. I feel those who are not following the rules are knowingly assisting an invisible killer and putting themselves and others at risk. People being careless could affect lives. We are nowhere near the end and are in a crisis.

“We need better control and enforcement, and I feel the shopkeepers need to be strict and enforce a no mask, no entry rule to keep themselves and others safe. We can and we will get through this, but for now we all need to play our part.”

Rubena Kashwar, founder of the Shabir Shah Foundation, who lives in Uxbridge area, said: “I am very happy to hear shopkeepers are being given fixed penalty notices.

“The police don’t want to do this, but they are being left with no choice and hopefully it will help certain individuals see sense and realise the severity of their actions.

“When I go to the shops in the area, I make sure I ask shopkeepers if they are not wearing masks, and I do that not because I get paid for it but because I care for my community and we have suffered enough.

“Even those coming into the shops should be asked to wear masks if they are not wearing them. I do feel shopkeepers need to not focus on making a few extra pounds and try and keep themselves and others safe. If you have your health, you can make back the wealth but if you have no health, you will lose everything.”

The issuing of penalties for the breach of Covid rules comes as the coronavirus rate for Staffordshire has fallen. Across the county, 321 new cases were recorded in the last 24-hour period and 15 more people have died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus. The latest cases came in the 24 hours to 4pm on Monday.

Staffordshire County Council is now reminding people not to become “Covid-complacent” as cases remain high.

Dr Johnny Mcmahon, cabinet member for health, care and wellbeing, said: “It’s a testament to a lot of hard work that we have reached this vaccination milestone. However, cases remain high and there is still enormous pressure on the NHS both locally and nationally. Now is not the time to give in to temptation – please continue to follow the rules and stay at home.

“If you do need to leave the house, for essential shopping or because you cannot work from home then please get tested, especially if you live in one of the hotspot areas where cases are very high.”

There is a community testing centre in each district or borough open seven days a week, all with good availability. There are also pop-up testing centres at various locations providing additional opportunities for residents to get a rapid test, he said. Testing is simple, free and people should get their results in around 30 minutes.

Here is the current picture in our area:

EAST STAFFORDSHIRE

A total of 7,525 people in East Staffordshire have now had confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic – a rise of 51 since Sunday.

There have been six more deaths, so the total stands at 314 since the pandemic began. The population of the borough is around 119,754. A total of 321 new cases were recorded across Staffordshire, including those in East Staffordshire, since Sunday.

That means 48,721 people have tested positive in Staffordshire as a whole since the start of the pandemic. In total, 15 more people have died since Sunday across the county, meaning that a total of 1,863 deaths have been recorded in Staffordshire. All cases were within 28 days of testing positive for the virus.

SOUTH DERBYSHIRE

There have been 41 new cases since Sunday with the total since the start of the pandemic now standing at 5,712. There have been no new deaths in the district, with the total number standing at 180.

In Derbyshire as a whole, there have been 38,855 cases, 350 of which have been registered since Sunday. Across the county, where the population is around 802,694, there have been 10 new deaths, meaning 1,363 people have died from the virus since February, last year.

NORTH WEST LEICESTERSHIRE

There have been 4,472 cases since the start of the pandemic, including 23 new cases in the latest 24-hour period. A total of 156 people have died within 28 days of testing positive, with one new death recorded in the latest 24-hour period.

In that time, a total of 35,040 cases have been recorded in Leicestershire as a whole, with 201 new cases. The population is around 706,155.

There have been two new deaths in the county recorded, meaning 980 have now died within 28 days of testing positive.