City at tipping point after rise in coronavirus cases
Sunderland’s leaders have said people must do all they can to follow the coronavirus rules to help the city return to normal – after letting habits slip back, sparking a rise in cases.
The number of new cases confirmed in the city has risen sharply in recent weeks, with the level of young people testing positive a particular concern.
A number of bars and restaurants in the area have closed as a precaution and to allow a deep clean to be carried out after people who were found to have the virus visited their businesses.
Yesterday, Sunderland City Council leader Cllr Graeme Miller, and Patrick Melia, its chief executive, issued a joint statement setting out how people must stick to the rules if the area is to see a drop in cases.
The statement said: “Today we are calling on everyone in Sunderland to do their bit in the battle against COVID following a sharp rise in the number of cases across our city.
“We really are at tipping point following the dramatic rise in the number of people testing positive for COVID over the last week, with cases more than doubling in the last seven days.
“Although many of these have been linked with a charity football event on our border with Durham at the end of August, we are seeing more and more cases right across Sunderland, so we are asking each and every one of our res
idents to do the right thing to help us prevent the further spread of this virus across our city.”
It continued: “We have all seen what has happened in other areas of the country which have seen a sharp spike in the number cases – including in our neighbouring authorities – and there is a very real possibility of the same thing happening here.
"So it is vital that we all work together if we are to contain this and prevent the further spread of the virus.
“This last week has been a very sobering reminder that COVID has not gone away and of the very real consequences of not following the social distancing guidance which is there to keep us all safe.
“We know that the last few months have been really difficult for everyone and that we’re all desperate for life to get back to some kind of normality.
"But the only way to achieve that is by everyone continuing to do what the people of Sunderland have
been doing so brilliantly up until very recently.
“That means following the advice on social distancing and staying two metres away from others, washing our hands more often for at least 20 seconds and wearing a face-covering where it is appropriate to do so.
"It’s also essential that anyone with symptoms books a test, doesn’t leave home other than to get one, and that you stay at home while you are waiting for your test results.
“Only by working together and taking these steps can we reduce the risk of infection to ourselves, our families and our communities, and avoid more restrictions in the future.”
Public Health England figures show the number per 100,000 people in the city found to have COVID-19 during the seven days up to Saturday, September 5, stood at 57.3 – that’s 159 new cases.
That is a rise from the week before, when it was 8.6, which equates to 24 people.