‘Do everything in your power to stay at home’
INFECTION RATE IS RISING BUT REMAINS BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGE
CITY council leader Steve Brady says the authority is there for people needing help during the latest national lockdown.
The council has maintained its Covid-19 telephone support line throughout the pandemic while encouraging residents and businesses to continue monitoring updates on its website.
Cllr Brady admitted many people would be “reeling” from the Government’s decision to revert to a full lockdown, including the closure of all schools and colleges, except for children of key workers or vulnerable youngsters.
He said Monday night’s announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson coming just 24 hours after his insistence that schools should remain open had not been helpful.
“While it is the right thing to do to protect public health and preserve our NHS, the Government has left people with little time to plan and adapt.
“Many people will be facing the isolation of shielding, financial fears and worries about how to teach their children at home.
“Others will have to continue to go to work while most of us can remain at home. All of us must continue to deal with very limited contact with our loved ones.
“I urge everyone to follow the national instructions and to seek help if you need it, whether financially or for your mental health, because I know that everyone is tired and that this becomes harder the longer it goes on.
“However, I want to reassure everyone that the council was ready for this.
“There is help available for people and businesses and those who need it should get in touch via our website or, if you or someone you know is without a support network and can’t access help online, our Covid-19 support line remains open on 01482 300307.
“We should hold onto the hope that with this lockdown we will begin to see the end in sight.”
Infection rates in the city have continued to rise, although they are currently lower than some of the worst in the South-east.
In a direct message to city residents, Hull’s director of public health Julia Weldon said: “It is with an extremely heavy heart that I must once again ask you to follow these directions from Government.
“This is not how any of us had hoped to start the new year and I know many of you will be struggling with this news for a variety of reasons. All of us face challenges in the coming weeks and we are all already dealing with the toll the past nine months has taken on us.
“Our rates right now remain lower than the national average, but they are rising, and we are yet to see the full impact of any mixing on Christmas Day.
“We know how quickly our local cases can increase. We have seen it happen before, but we have also seen those rates fall again as a result of people pulling together.
“We can, and will, come out of this. There are better times to come. I would urge all of you to focus on that thought through these next difficult few weeks and to do everything in your power to stay at home and keep yourselves, the NHS and each other safe.”