Blast for claims of virus hoax on signs
CONSPIRACY theorists claiming that the Covid-19 pandemic is a hoax have vandalised signs and posters across Southport and Ainsdale.
Signs in the town centre have been the subject of the graffiti, with floor stickers along Lord Street labelled with words such as ‘hoax’ and ‘scam’.
Posters at bus stops along the street were also targeted – one was brandished with the slogan ‘it’s a hoax, folks’ and another read ‘deep down, you know it’s a scam’.
The conspiracy theorists have been targeting signs which urge people to social distance and also hit a large poster board with the same messaging along the Coastal Road. That was painted with a slogan calling the pandemic a ‘plandemic’.
Sefton Council have pledged to clear any of its own signage which has been defaced and asked anyone who spots similar graffiti to report them to the police.
The incidents are the latest in a series of public stunts by people angry at restrictions designed to limit the spread of the virus and happened not long before Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced a limit of six people meeting in social situations.
Earlier this week, Sefton Council also visited a Bootle hair salon which bragged about being ‘Covid free’ in posters which stated “you can’t catch what doesn’t exist”.
A spokesman for Sefton Council said: “We are aware that public and private signage, designed to encourage social distancing and keep our communities safe, has been vandalised in Southport Town Centre.
“As well as protecting individual businesses and their customers, these temporary measures are there to support our communities to help reduce the possibility of a wider Covid-19 outbreak and the potential need to introduce local restrictions, which would have a negative effect on everyone.
“While we are grateful to the thousands of healthcare professionals, residents, visitors and businesses who are playing their part in helping reduce the spread of Covid-19 in Sefton, it is disappointing to see that a very small minority of people are behaving in a reckless and irresponsible manner.
“We strongly urge all our residents to report any instances of vandalism to the police immediately and we will be working over the coming weeks to remove any defaced local authority signage.”