PLEASE STICK TO RULES Leaders urge residents to be careful as region put on Covid watchlist
LOCAL leaders have urged Southport residents to comply with social distancing restrictions after Merseyside was placed on the Government’s Covid-19 watchlist.
The entire county was listed among the Government’s areas of concern on Friday due to the rising number of positive results.
Although that does not mean any new restrictions have been put in place, beyond those affecting the whole country, if the number of cases continues to rise then Merseyside could soon be subject to conditions seen in Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire.
In light of the announcement, Sefton Council leader Cllr Ian Maher, Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram and Southport MP Damien Moore all pleaded with residents to stick to the guidelines and help prevent a further surge.
Southport MP Damien Moore said: “Being placed on the ‘Watch List’ means that the Government is closely monitoring the situation in our area regarding infection rates.
“They could impose a local lockdown on our area if cases continue to rise.
“That is something we all want to avoid if we can. So I would today ask every person, every family, every business in Southport and across Merseyside to continue with the excellent work you have been doing to keep yourselves and others safe and to stop transmission of this virus.
“Please continue to wash your hands often, and well; please maintain social distance from others; please wear a face mask or a face covering when using public transport or in shops or supermarkets.
“If you develop symptoms, please self-isolate immediately and please get a test.”
After being placed on the Coronavirus Watch List, council leaders in the region will now have to report back to the Government on measures being taken to avoid a local lockdown in the region.
Merseyside’s boroughs have now all been classed as ‘areas of concern’. This could be escalated to ‘areas of enhanced support’ and then ‘intervention’ as has happened in places such as Leicester and Bolton recently.
Cllr Maher warned: “It’s vital that local people continue with social distancing and follow the Government’s recently revised guidelines restricting indoor meetings to members of two different households and keeping numbers at outdoor gatherings to a maximum of six.
“Wearing masks and face coverings where required and frequent, thorough hand-washing are also crucial.
“Sefton’s businesses need to ensure they are protecting their customers and staff by having all the required measures in place, including Test and Trace arrangements for pubs, bars and restaurants, distancing and cleaning procedures and face coverings where required.
“Also, we need those people who develop the coronavirus symptoms of a high temperature, or a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste, to get a test immediately, for their own safety and the safety of others. They just need to visit www. nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119 to make an appointment at their nearest available test centre. Home testing kits are also available on request.”